Global property group Goodman and Advantage West Midlands have unveiled plans for a major high tech employment and mixed use development, having secured full planning consent to develop the former Jaguar site at Browns Lane, Coventry.
In a strategic partnership with the regional development agency Advantage West Midlands (AWM), the development on the 30 hectare site, which is to be renamed Lyons Park, will focus on attracting high tech companies, creating substantial employment opportunities and also much needed new housing for Coventry.
The new development has been named Lyons Park in recognition of the heritage of the site and its founder, Sir William Lyons who started the pioneering Swallow Sidecar Company which evolved into Jaguar Cars after the Second World War.
Following extensive consultation with the council and local community, the full planning consent incorporates;
· Manufacturing / distribution - 800,000 sq ft of space for industrial and distribution uses;
· Office - 75,000 sq ft of high quality office space; and
· Residential - 172 dwellings, including a proportion of affordable housing.
The development complements and supports the long term strategy for the wider regeneration of the City of Coventry and surrounding areas. Leading planning consultants Pegasus Planning Group has supported the development of the application with architects Peter Haddon & Partners providing master planning.
Lyons Park is located to the west of Coventry, just off the A45 providing good links to the City and Birmingham as well as the M6, M42 and Birmingham and Coventry Airports. The site will be divided into three distinct areas of development with Lyons Park West being owned by Goodman and providing units up to 100,000 sq.ft and Lyons Park East being owned by AWM with a focus on smaller units. The third area will be the implementation of the residential development access separately off Browns Lane.
Graham Pardoe, Goodman's Development Director for UK Logistics, said: "Coventry has a long and proud legacy as a City of innovation, industry and technology. Lyons Park will provide the opportunity for organic growth of this heritage, offering the opportunity for small to medium businesses as well as national companies to locate to a first class development. In re-branding the site we were determined to create a new identity while recognising the site's heritage. We feel that Lyons Park is a fitting name which gives the development a strong identity."
Steve Holland, Head of Asset Management at Advantage West Midlands, said: "The planning permission for the development of Lyons Park marks another important milestone in the regeneration and redevelopment of Coventry. Alongside other major projects such as Ansty Park, Lyons Park will play an important part in strengthening the City's contribution to the West Midland's economy by attracting manufacturing companies to the region and creating more jobs for local people. The achievement of planning permission for the site has only been possible through extensive negotiations between Advantage West Midlands, Goodman, Jaguar Land Rover and Coventry City Council. I am confident that these strong relationships and partnerships will now drive the future success of Lyons Park."
Julian Hetherington, Director, Land and Strategic Asset Development for Jaguar Land Rover said: "It is excellent news that the plans to redevelop the former Jaguar site at Browns Lane in Coventry have been approved and we are of course delighted that Sir William Lyons' achievements are remembered with the choice of name for the development."
Infrastructure works are now underway and are expected to complete in April 2010.
Source: FD
