Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director of Place

The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director of Place, which outlined proposals for the Charterhouse Heritage Park and Trail.

The draft Local Plan was approved by Cabinet on 12^th January 2016 (Minute 104/15 refers).  The plan was expected to be adopted in Spring 2017. An aspiration within that plan was for a 70 acre Heritage Park based on Charterhouse and London Road Cemetery, together with associated links, which were included in the emerging Local Plan (policy HE3). 

These proposals had been developed further by the Historic Coventry Trust and their masterplan was included as Appendix A to the report submitted.  The principal element was the 70 acre park and regeneration of the 14th century Charterhouse and Joseph Paxton’s London Road Cemetery, which were both grade 1 listed. 

Critical to the success of this vision would be the creation of high quality and attractive walking and cycling links to connect the park with the University and the City Centre which could be via the River Sherbourne and to Far Gosford Street and Gosford Green via the former Coventry Loop Railway Line.  This would package together a number of historical assets that, in addition to the Charterhouse and Cemetery, would include the grade 1 listed Whitefriars monastery, the grade 2 listed Stephenson Sowe Viaduct and Gosford Green - the scene of the ‘duel that never was’ which saw Richard II become king of England.  However, much of the land involved was not within the ownership of Coventry City Council or the Historic Coventry Trust.

The Heritage Park could create a unique heritage and recreational asset, and its location, close to the City Centre and inner City neighbourhoods, would be transformational in terms of the perception of the City as a place in which to live, learn, work and visit.  It would bring great recreational opportunities to many people and potential economic benefits to the City.

The proposals within the report addressed a number of the Council’s corporate priorities within the themes of ‘globally connected’ and ‘locally committed’, and they also supported Coventry’s ‘City of Culture’ bid.

Whilst the adoption of the Local Plan would ensure Policy HE3 was a material consideration, it was essential given the importance of the Heritage Park and Trail in helping to achieve key corporate priorities that the Council set out clear guidelines and principles for prospective developers.  It was therefore proposed that Supplementary Planning Guidance should be developed for the Heritage Park and Trail.  It was only through this process that the loop line concept could be defended within the planning process and this could only be done once the planning inspector had published conclusions and recommendations for the Local Plan. 

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1.  Reiterate its support for the concept of the Coventry Heritage Park and associated links as set out in the Council’s emerging Local Plan as approved by Cabinet on 12^th January 2016.

2.  Endorse the development of a Supplementary Planning Document to support and detail the delivery of the Heritage Park and associated links once the Local Plan is adopted.