Plans submitted for landmark Coventry apartment scheme

The first images have been released of EDG Property’s proposals to transform a former Coventry department store into the city’s premier apartment scheme.

Plans have now been submitted to Coventry City Council for the ambitious £15m project that will see the creation of the city’s highest specification apartments developed around an indoor park at the former Co-op store in Corporation Street.

The plans deigned by architects Corstorphine + Wright will retain much of the existing listed mid-20^th Century architecture right down to calling the scheme The Co-operative and using the existing 1950s lettering on the building frontage.

A key element would be the creation of a park within the development by removing a section of the building and creating a covered private residential city centre park, while a private members’ club will be added to the top floor of the building, exclusive for residents.

Announcing the plans on the eve of the MIPIM property show in Cannes, EDG managing director Neil Edginton said the scheme aimed to set a new benchmark for private sale apartments in Coventry while also helping the city take the steps in its ambitious city centre development plans.

“We are genuinely excited about this scheme,” said Neil, whose company is behind developments such as The Cube and The School Yard in Birmingham. “We love the original architecture and want to draw that out and make it a feature of the overall development.

“We have successfully negotiated being able to use The Co-operative as the name of the development and retaining the lettering. We will be keeping the façade and making the most of the large glass panels.

“The overall project is around 140,000 sq ft and will include office, retail, leisure and residential and will be truly mixed-used.

“It will be something very different for Coventry and will take city centre living to a new level.

“The park will be a unique feature for the exclusive use of residents, which will give those people access to a tranquil green space in the heart of the bustling city. That, along with the private residents only members’ club, will help to set The Co-operative apart.

“We have submitted a planning application for The Co-operative and will be taking the proposed scheme to MIPIM with the Coventry and Warwickshire MIPIM Partnership. It’s our intention to move forward with the development as soon as possible as we truly believe the time is right for this kind of scheme in Coventry.

“When you look at what’s happening in and around that area of the city centre, I believe it will be a great place to live and enjoy – and we are really keen to be part of the city’s rejuvenation.”