I believe more than £230 million of regional investment will help create the jobs for Coventry to bounce back from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
I am determined’ to see the huge amounts of investment translated into jobs for local people. We are providing a huge amount of investment – into the city centre, major new developments, the transport network, the motor industry and backing next year’s City of Culture celebrations. This investment can help kickstart Coventry’s economy as we come out of the pandemic, and provide quality jobs for local people.
We are already seeing diggers in the ground starting work on these projects – and there are a lot more to come as we continue to invest in the city’s success.
Investments coming into Coventry include:
- £95.5 million for the City Centre South redevelopment
- £51 million for the Friargate development
- £39.4 million for the new railway station
- £35 million to support City of Culture
- £18 million for the National Battery Industrialisation Centre
Our region is also leading the way in reclaiming old derelict sites for new housing, and Coventry is at the forefront of that, such as more than 1,000 homes being built as part of the City Centre South plans.
This ‘Brownfield First’ policy is vital if we are to protect our Green Belt areas – which I know is a huge concern in Coventry with so many controversial developments on the cards.
I will continue to push for the council to review its Local Plan, which is based on flawed population predictions and leaving the city’s Green Belt open to developers. Of course, at the moment, our focus must be on defeating the virus, which means all of us following the guidelines to bring down the infection rate. But as we look to the future, we are putting in real investment to help Coventry bounce back.”