by David Sands
Carroll Group have been chosen by British Gas to develop the 57-acre Foleshill gasworks site 4 miles north of Coventry. A joint scheme is to be worked out between the two partners, who plan 700,000 sq ft of shopping and industrial uses, with 7 acres of residential development.
But Coventry council — with which the developers have opened negotiations — is unwilling to allow retail use on the site, as it has been earmarked for industrial or storage and distribution uses.
Last week the authority lost an appeal to prevent Wigley Contracts from building retail warehousing on a nearby site where the council wanted industrial development. However, further talks are to be held with the council and, subject to a successful outcome, Carroll believe they could begin the £60m scheme early next year.
The former gasworks is close to junction 3 of the M6 and is directly linked to the motorway via the new Holbrooks bypass.
Including this new project, Carroll’s present UK development programme amounts to some £2bn. On completion, the industrial and retail elements of the Foleshill scheme will be held in the developers’ portfolio.
On hearing of his group’s selection, chief executive David Cotton said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as partners for probably the most significant new development to be undertaken in Coventry for many years.”
Hepper Robinson are advising the developers.
