Shearer Property Regen Ltd (SPRL) has secured planning consent for the first phase of the City Centre South (CCS) regeneration scheme in Coventry city centre.
SPRL, which is a joint venture partnership between housebuilder The Hill Group and commercial specialist Shearer Property Group, intends to deliver up to 1,550 homes in the first phase of the £450m transformation of the centre of Coventry.
The development will also include 8,000 sq m of new commercial space and 17,000 sq m of public open space.
Andy Hill OBE, group chief executive of The Hill Group, said: “We are delighted to receive approval for the first phase of Coventry City Centre South, a key milestone in the delivery of a vibrant new neighbourhood for this historic area of Coventry. Working with our partner, Shearer Property Group, we will make the vision of high-quality homes in an integrated and attractive community a reality, breathing new life into the city centre and elevating Coventry as a leading location within the West Midlands.”
Guy Shearer, of Shearer Property Group, added: “This planning consent is the culmination of many years’ work and will now unlock the delivery phase of this highly-anticipated scheme. City Centre South will create a vibrant new quarter for the city with an eclectic mix of the latest shops, bars, and restaurants, an exciting environment for the homes above.
“Delivering a project of this scale and complexity could not have been possible without the skill, dedication and commitment of our partners, The Hill Group, along with the support and collaboration of the council and WMCA. This consent marks one of the final and most important milestones in making this a live project.”
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, said: “This is great news and another step in the right direction for the first phase of City Centre South. City centres are changing and this development will create a new community in the city centre, including much-needed affordable and social homes. This investment, led by the private sector will create a thriving, bustling new area with plenty of people living at the heart of it and supporting shops, restaurants and leisure attractions as well as creating jobs for local people. I’m really looking forward to work starting.”
Andy Street, the mayor of the West Midlands and Chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), added: “The go-ahead for the first phase of this exciting scheme is great news for Coventry. It will transform a large but outdated part of the city into a vibrant new district for people to live, work and have fun.
“It’s why the WMCA has agreed to invest more than £100m into the project. It’s also another example of how the WMCA has consistently stepped up in recent years to invest in Coventry’s bright future, contributing £35m for City of Culture, £40m for the new rail station and £50m for the Friargate office development.
“Backing our region’s town and city centres to create new jobs and affordable homes for local people is a top priority for the WMCA and I’m now looking forward to seeing new life breathed back into this part of the city as hundreds of people move into the homes being built, helping to reinvigorate Coventry in the years ahead.”
