Friargate development

While I think this redevelopment could well improve the viability of this particular pub I don't want to see its retention hamper the whole development. We had that with Sainsburys in the Phoenix Development and that thing has been a huge failure because they had to try and work around that one existing building, and it compromised the layout so massively they may as well have not bothered. We have to accept the pub business is an industry in massive, and quite likely permanent, decline. To keep a large number of them for nostalgic reasons is foolhardy and a waste of valuable land. I also think it could look very, very odd with the proposed surrounding buildings, especially along Warwick Road and generally look massively out of place. Plus that pub has been quite problematic over the years in relation to the football. What if the actual business, the pub, were offered space within the new development for people waiting for trains to access easily? Or would you be happy for the business to go in exchange for the building to be kept? Most of the time I'm not even sure if the thing is still open anyway - it often has that abandoned look about it IMO.

I assume Central 6 is named after the nearest junction on the ring road (6) and its central location... The rocket could easily be incorporated into the plans that have been mooted for that area.

I see from tonight's Telegraph that demolition of Copthall House took place today, two days earlier than previously stated - link here So I'm rather glad I travelled back to Coventry yesterday to get some photos of the building before it finally disappeared - here's a selection

Payne Skillington have vacated 12 Manor Road and moved into Park House, Park Road

More great photos Cliff You start to get an idea of the more open-area idea Friargate plans for access in to the city here: Similar in part to how the run in to the city was along Eaton Road/Warwick Road. More images from the project site here. I had this response some time ago from their representative - whilst not coming across as being entirely sympathetic to the need to save The Rocket - they at least mention possible plans to incorporate it in to a new Warwick Road entrance. Hi Neil Thank you for your interest in Friargate via our web site. Our own records show that the Rocket pub was formerly the Railway Hotel which was first built in the late 1850's. Although it was associated with the original station (1838), it was substantially altered in the late 19th century or early 20th century so what we see today has little or no evidence of the original Hotel role. The building is 'locally listed' as being of local but not national interest. We included its possible demolition as part of the description of the Friargate master plan for outline planning purposes for which approval was given in July 2011. As developer, we have no current plans for the property as it falls outside of our commercial proposals. This part of Warwick Road is likely to house a new station entrance building as a part of a proposal to generally improve transport connections in the area and it is therefore possible that the Rocket might be included within the proposals. These ideas are being worked up by a team managed by Coventry Council and Network Rail and could reinstate an entrance in the historic location of the original station. Please keep in touch with the project and do not hesitate to make contact again if you would like more information. Regards Stephen Reynolds

Where will the Council Building be in relation to the slab on the last photo? Alan H

I think it'll be on the right hand side, just off camera where the slip road is. Chosen I think to help create the change in direction on leaving the station to send you towards Warwick Road.

Is it April 1st?!

I believe it will be just to the right of the camera position, this side of the ring-road. Those "slabs" simply form the walk-way over the ring-road to the city centre.

A 'club' in a concrete tunnel. Stay classy, Coventry.

Coventry Station plans scaled back report

I'm sure it was mentioned somewhere a while ago but I noticed the ringroad 'Dome' on the Junction 6/7 was smashed up the other day. Google Map'ed

Some more photos which show little further demolition has taken place since a previous visit, but work goes on with the former J6 of the Inner Ring Road

13 unlucky for some.!!! Seems Coventry is keeping up with grey dismal areas, but then again ghost s are a sort of grey are they not (ghost town song ) this time grey, like block paving, where Broadgate has horrid grey slabs, must be because the council have to look out on it, while the public have to look at the horrid architechture, have they never heard of coloured mosiac paving to brighten up the place, some thing like AD designs on his albums pictures . Or this, we could change the colour and pretend it s the river Sherbourne with waves. Perhaps we dont have theses skills. Lisbon How Coventry City Council's new £40million headquarters at Friargate will look

You needn't have rushed! Most of Copthall House is still standing. Only the wing along the ring-road clockwise off slip road has been demolished. The walkway is supposed to go through the middle of the section of Copthall House opposite the station entrance. which was still standing so this could be interesting for a "Spring 2015" completion. I got all nostalgic when I saw that the "Midland Bank" have returned. Peter.