Probably the biggest transformation to take place will be the removal of the green escalator in The Upper Precinct which leads to the West Orchards Shopping Centre. Although it has been a well-known landmark since its creation in the 1990s, the escalator is generally disliked by residents of Coventry and there was a public campaign last year to try and have it taken down. The proposal to remove it has been generally welcomed with Councillor Jim Boyle stating that it will enable a clearer view of the spire of Coventry Cathedral.
This is a return to the original Gibson Plan for Coventry when it was rebuilt after World War II. The architect Donald Gibson drew up plans for pedestrianised areas in the city shopping centre with a clear view maintained of the Cathedral. Opponents to the escalator have often cited the fact that it was contrary to the Gibson plan as a reason to remove it.
It is not just the escalator that is being removed, there are plans for a complete transformation of The Upper Precinct. A ramp will be removed and a new entrance built for the West Orchard Shopping Centre plus the empty properties on the top floor will be converted into accommodation for students with a total of 75 student bedrooms planned. Shop fronts will also be remodelled and renovated including the unit which had housed the Coventry BHS store until it closed in 2016 and which still stands empty.
A statement from the developers Shearer Property group and JP Morgan Asset Management who are the owners of The Upper Precinct said that they viewed the creation of a more attractive environment for the city shopping centre would help retailers and enable Coventry to compete with other nearby retail areas such as Birmingham. Stewart Underwood, a director at Shearer Property Group stated that their proposals were an exciting opportunity and that the transformation of The Upper Precinct would be beneficial to both new and existing retailers in the area.
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