Demolition work begins on “game-changer” Coventry city centre development

Demolition work has begun on the new City Centre South redevelopment scheme in Coventry, which has been described by the West Midlands Mayor as a “game-changer” for the city.

The City Arcade area, which was shut in February, is entirely included in this project, with work planned for a zone covering a quarter of the city centre.

The first phase of this project involves the demolition of hundreds of retail units, including the former Argos building and the Barracks multi-storey car park.

The council used compulsory purchase powers on around 200 of these retail units, forcing many businesses to leave premises in which they have been based for years.

[Mayor Richard] Parker described City Centre South as a ‘game-changer for Coventry’, and ‘exactly the kind of bold, community-first development we need across our region’

Catherine Bartlem, co-founder of the Coffee Tots community café, told the BBC that, while she understands “change is necessary”, it was difficult to see the area which had been “home” to many businesses being knocked down.

The West Midlands Combined Authority has invested £110 million into the project, with leading political figures such as Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands, in attendance for the first demolitions in June.

Parker described City Centre South as a “game-changer for Coventry”, and “exactly the kind of bold, community-first development we need across our region”.

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Coventry City Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration, and Climate Change, said that it was “fantastic to see real progress on the ground with demolition now underway”.

He added: “City Centre South will completely transform this part of the city and attract people to live, work, and spend their time here.”

Construction on the project is expected to begin this summer, with the first homes of the scheme being finished in late 2027. The project is set to be completed by 2032

The project, which was reported on by The Boar in February when City Arcade was first closed, is being delivered by The Hill Group and Shearer Property Group.

The scheme plans to provide new affordable residential space, redeveloped pedestrian routes, public transport initiatives, and retail opportunities.

Andy Hill, Group CEO of The Hill Group, has expressed his company’s “commitment to the delivery of this transformative city centre development”, which he described as “a unique opportunity to create a new heart for Coventry”.

Construction on the project is expected to begin this summer, with the first homes of the scheme being finished in late 2027. The project is set to be completed by 2032.