Coventry City Centre South, SPG & Hill Group

As the UK’s 11th largest city, a recent “City of Culture”, and host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Coventry has undergone a renaissance. Over £750 million has been invested in private and public initiatives, and City Centre South was the missing piece in the city’s transformation, establishing it as a Midlands mixed-use destination.

With £98 million of funding secured from the West Midlands Combined Authority, the ambition was to deliver 1.35 million sq ft of mixed-use space, including 1,300 homes, leisure facilities, and dynamic commercial areas.

Redwood was involved in two phases of consultation: We were appointed by Shearer Property Group (SPG) to lead the engagement programme for their outline planning application. Once permission for this was in place, we were appointed by Hill Group to undertake local engagement on detailed proposals. 

Recognising the scale and sensitivity of this transformation, we adopted a “digital-first” approach to engage Coventry’s diverse population over the outline application during COVID. This maximised participation, generating enthusiasm for a socially and commercially thriving district. We also engaged key stakeholders to ensure broad input shaped the masterplan. We undertook consultation online and in-person for the detailed proposals. We set up an exhibition in Shelton Square in the town centre and held dedicated sessions for local business owners and groups with an interest in local public art.

Our strategic execution secured unanimous approval from Coventry City Council and reinforced investor confidence – leading to a joint venture with Hill Group as development and funding partner.

By addressing community concerns, particularly around local businesses and transition planning, we helped mitigate risks. Transparent communication ensured smooth progression to the next development phase – cementing Coventry’s city centre as a thriving destination for generations