Regeneration

The project is being managed by the Historic Coventry Trust and will bring Drapers' Hall back into regular use through the restoration and adaption of the Regency building as a centre for music performance and education. 

The project will:

• Revive an unused Grade II* listed building
• Open up the space and revamping the interior
• Add an extension to include a lift and toilets for visitors 

Read more about this on the Historic Coventry website.

The works at St Mary's Guildhall include improvements to the display and interpretation of the tapestry, exposing the medieval kitchen and significantly improving the visitor experience. 

The project will see:

• A revamp which will see the remains of the medieval kitchens opened up. The kitchens are thought to be among the earliest surviving kitchens in the country.
• Other works will include improved catering facilities, public areas, meeting rooms and a more interactive visitor experience.

• The gallery improvements have now been completed including the conversion of a storage area to create additional first-floor gallery space to allow for hosting major exhibitions such as the Turner Prize. 

See below a video showing the progression of the ongoing works at the Herbert Art Gallery.

https://www.veed.io/download/18447d1d-1729-435c-99fd-f9de4837c3d1

• Lighting
• Paving
• Artwork from Coventry artist, Matt Chu.

• Plans inspired by Sir Basil Spence's original proposals include a new education space for events, a larger cafe, new toilets and a new lift will all be installed.
• The project will enable the Cathedral to host a more diverse range of events and experiences with improved accessibility for visitors, visitor facilities and enhanced support for major events. 
• The construction was due to start the week lockdown was implemented, which meant the project start was delayed. 

Read more about the development on the Coventry Cathedral website.

• Moved to Hertford Street
• A new gold-coloured resin-bonded finish paving

Boosting Coventry’s image and visitor/cultural economies through exceptional visitor accommodation in restored medieval heritage buildings. The two remaining gates in the city wall and the timber-framed ‘chocolate box’ cottages next to Godiva’s Cathedral will accommodate up to 26 guests per night in six unique self-contained units. The project forms part of a flagship initiative by Historic Coventry Trust working in close partnership with the Council to unlock the potential of the city’s under-used heritage to boost the visitor economy and city image.

The project assists in the relocation and redevelopment of a popular arts venue, The HMV Empire, a cornerstone of Coventry’s night-time economy. The new premises will increase the available space allowing HMV Empire to increase its cultural diversity and host more events. 

The new venue will increase capacity, potentially up to 1500 people. This can be divided and sectioned to allow the venue to host shows with as few as 100 people. HMV Empire also has a large number of room configurations that include seating, round table events and conference and exhibition spaces. HMV Empire will deliver its existing diary that includes live music, wrestling, comedy, club nights, creative workshops and community productions. Layouts have also been devised to accommodate social distancing regulations.  

The Battery Connection Kiosk is now located in Broadgate (next to Wilkos) and the phone kiosk is now located in Hertford Street (under the canopy next to Superdrug).

• Demolition of green escalator
• Demolition of upper balcony area of Upper Precinct
• New planting, paving and water feature
• Poetry featured as part of water rills, written by Kim Hackleman
• Demolition of the Ernest Jones building, opening up the view into Broadgate

• New wayfinding across the City Centre

• New water feature
• Children’s play area
• New paving
• New lighting

• Paving
• Seating
• Greenery
• Water features

• A 550,000 sqft scheme which aims to modernise the southern half of Coventry city centre
• The Wave - a water park and health spa - opened in 2019.
• Coventry Point is in the process of demolition to open up the space and the views in Market Way

• New boutique hotel located in the former premises of the Coventry Telegraph
• Set to open its doors in 2020
• The hotel will reflect its former life as a thriving newspaper and print works
• 88 bedrooms, including penthouse suites
• A restaurant in a glazed courtyard
• Meeting and conference facilities 
• Rooftop bar overlooking Belgrade Square

Read more about the development on the Telegraph Hotel website.

• Refurbishment of the Main House auditorium has already been completed. 
• Construction has now been completed on the extension and re-branding of the cafe/restaurant and creating of additional conferencing/workshop/hospitality space.
• Next steps will be turning the unused Jaguar Pub into a creative space for rehearsals and talent development, as well as a flat upstairs which can be rented by visiting actors. 

See below a video with a quick look at the ongoing works at the Belgrade Theatre:

https://youtu.be/0g9jn4SGliU

Boosting Coventry’s image and visitor/cultural economies through exceptional visitor accommodation in restored medieval heritage buildings. The two remaining gates in the city wall and the timber-framed ‘chocolate box’ cottages next to Godiva’s Cathedral will accommodate up to 26 guests per night in six unique self-contained units. The project forms part of a flagship initiative by Historic Coventry Trust working in close partnership with the Council to unlock the potential of the city’s under-used heritage to boost the visitor economy and city image.

Take a look at some photos taken when filming took place for the recent ‘digital hard-hat tour’, where over 65 guests joined for a digital view inside and a live Q&A.

Creating a new shared collections centre to house the local heritage collections alongside national collections, with aligned research and conservation facilities in the heart of Coventry.

A collaboration between the City Council, Arts Council England, Arts Council Collection, the British Council, Culture Coventry Trust and Coventry University​. To create a new, shared, national Collections Centre that will provide state of the arts facilities for the management and research of national and local collections, along with associated educational and learning opportunities ​

Establishes Coventry as the new ‘home’ for two national partners’ loan collections, for the long-term​.

Partnered with the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum to show work from the national collections through dedicated gallery space and/or programmed exhibitions​.

• Plans for a five-storey boutique hotel in Friargate including bedrooms, a restaurant, bar and mini gym
• The building will be beside Friargate One

Read more about the development on the Chapman Taylor website. 

This project will improve the layout of the venue, making it more suitable for a wider range of events. It will increase the audience capacity and the space available for performers. Improve toilets and overall visitor experience and confidence especially with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will also cover the costs of some capital equipment to enable the staff to be more efficient. 

• The project is developing Units 3 and 4 to create production spaces for six local arts and creative organisations, which will support the city in hosting UK City of Culture.
• Following the designs being finalised early in the summer, construction is now well underway on site. 

Read more on the Imagineer website. 

• New car park
• Second station building

This project provides two striking visitor information points at our primary transport gateways - Coventry Rail Station and Pool Meadow Coach Station - essential for welcoming the 2.5m visitors anticipated during our 2021 City of Culture year, as well as Commonwealth Games visitors in 2022 and a lasting-legacy beyond. 

Importantly, the services will support tourism and hospitality businesses, bolstering growth of the visitor economy. Attraction signposting, journey planning and facilitated bookings will result in longer stays, increased spend, an enhanced visitor experience and, ultimately, more jobs in the tourism sector. 

The Anglican Chapel is currently being refitted with eco underfloor heating and glasing to enable sustainable use for events and community use.

The chapel is located in the London Road Cemetery, the cemetery is Grade I listed, with many of its buildings Grade II. It was designed by Joseph Paxton in 1847 as an arboretum and is one of the top 5 in the UK. 

City of Culture ‘Observations on Being’ is to take place at 7 sites in the cemetery in July/August including the two cemetery chapels.

• Development of The Box at FarGo as a flexible live venue with improved performance, bar and back of house areas. Additional new office and work spaces for creative start-up businesses. 
• The project was completed in September 2019. 

FarGo Village is an innovative, creative enterprise hub; the focal point of Coventry’s Creative Quarter, home to 40 independent, creative SME’s. ​

This project involves remodelling and refurbishing larger warehouse spaces which will satisfy demand for grow on space for existing businesses and in turn free up space for more creative entrepreneurs and digital start-ups. New units will house studio and small gallery spaces, some of the latest technologies in 3D printing with Coventry University’s FabLab, fashion design and manufacturing, woodwork facilities and screen printing, lino cutting and dark room facilities. ​

All businesses will create new jobs, retain and develop talent and offer skills development opportunities for the local community. 

The Albany Theatre is an established community theatre located in an art deco building. This project is looking to connect existing spaces and develop the external courtyard, removing the current back-of-house spaces and create new studio spaces.

The art deco 1930’s theatre secured investment which will be used to increase building’s capability and accessibility. The theatre will offer high-class, fully accessible performing arts and cultural venue.​

Theatre will deliver access to arts and culture which will lead to a growth in the tourism economy and will make a greater contribution to City of Culture 2021.