Compulsory Purchase Order approved for Coventry's City Centre South regeneration scheme

Coventry’s long awaited City Centre South regeneration scheme has taken a huge leap forward, following the confirmation of the Compulsory Purchase Order.

The Compulsory Purchase Order enables the assembly of land interests to deliver a mixed-use redevelopment of c. 6 hectares of Coventry’s city centre. This includes new commercial uses together with 1,500 homes. The scheme is supported by grant funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Land Referencing Services

LRS were delighted to provide services to the project. An inspector appointed by the Secretary of State confirmed the Coventry City Centre South Compulsory Purchase Order last week. The report states the economic benefits of the scheme would be “transformational’.

The inspector found that the scheme underpinning the CPO was wholly in accordance with the development plan.

Outline planning permission was granted for City Centre South in April 2021.

Developers have pointed to Coventry’s renaissance on the back of the city being UK City of Culture 2021. In addition, it was a host city for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. More than £750million has been invested across a range of private and public initiatives.

Major Upgrade

These include a major upgrade of Coventry railway station, the new Wave indoor water park and the first 300,000 sq ft of new Grade A offices, part of the initial phases of the Friargate business district. The city centre has also been transformed with new art and water features, lighting, and planting.

As stated in the decision document: “The reason for the CPO is to enable the obviously much-needed redevelopment of the City Centre South area through comprehensive redevelopment.

"The proposal underlying the CPO is intended to improve the mix of uses currently on the site, by improving the quality of the retail and commercial offer, and importantly by introducing a substantial amount of residential accommodation – which is notably lacking in the city centre as a whole.

"The tired appearance of the area, including the public realm, is in need of radical refreshment. These objectives have been part of the Council’s aspiration and policy for decades.”

The Inspector concludes:

“The scheme underpinning the CPO is wholly in accordance with the development plan and has the benefit of planning permission.

“Overall it is concluded that there is a compelling case in the public interest for the CPO to be confirmed, and that there are no impediments to the regeneration of the Order Lands. There is a good prospect of the Scheme being delivered within a reasonable time scale and there is no realistic prospect of the Scheme being realised without the CPO.”