MIPIM: Friargate Coventry in partnership with Coventry city council has appointed landscape architect Gross Max to deliver the public realm of Coventry’s new 3.2m sq ft Friargate development.
Proposals for the 37-acre site, to be launched at MIPIM this week, feature a total of 25 new buildings, including 14 grade-A office blocks, two hotels and new residential. Gross Max will be responsible for the design of all public spaces, streets, squares and parks within Friargate.
Next to Coventry railway station, Friargate is an office-led development set around new public spaces. One of the important parts of the masterplan will be a new pedestrian boulevard linking the station with the city centre.
The size of the site is equivalent to around 25 football pitches. The scheme will be phased over 15 years.
It already has consent and Coventry council has entered into a collaboration agreement with the developer to ensure the council’s support into the delivery phase.
Stephen Reynolds, director at Friargate Coventry, said: “Friargate is about far more than creating new office buildings; the masterplan will establish new walking routes and public spaces to encourage pedestrian movement from the train station to the city centre. The new public realm will define the masterplan and establish Friargate as the new gateway to the city centre.”
Gross Max has completed work on the public space around the Royal Festival Hall and Royal Botanical Gardens in London, the Turner Contemporary in Margate and Glasgow’s Museum of Transport.
Work is expected to start on site in Coventry in late 2013.
lisa.pilkington@estatesgazette.com
