£94m Coventry Station and precinct revamp approved

Ambitious plans to revamp Coventry railway station and transform a precinct in the city centre have moved forward in the countdown to 2021 when the city is UK City of Culture.Council planners have approved £82m to upgrade Coventry Station into a new transport hub and a £12m plan to improve the Upper Precinct in the city centre.The railway station, which was opened in 1962, will proceed in two phases and has been designed by D5 Architect and consultant WSP.The first phase to construct a new footbridge and canopies and an access tunnel under Warwick Road is already underway.The second phase involves building a 633-space multi-storey car park, new station concourse with access to all platforms and Warwick Road, and a new pedestrian route via an access tunnel under Warwick Road to a new bus interchange.Coventry City Council is working in partnership with Network Rail, Virgin Trains and other rail operators, Transport for West Midlands, Friargate Coventry LLP and other stakeholders to deliver the scheme.Work is hoped to be completed by the end of 2020.