A former restaurant in Coventry city centre will be demolished at the weekend as part of the latest works to bring down Coventry Point.

Earlier this year, demolition crews arrived at Coventry Point, which is set to be demolished in time for the city's year as City of Culture in 2021.

From the outside, the 13-storey building largely looks just as it has since its construction was completed in 1975.

Demolition teams have now moved in and scaffolding soon went up surrounding the building.

However, the first major visible change is about to happen, with the demolition of both a restaurant underneath the building and a bridge link to the Barracks car park.

The work will be taking place this weekend from August 9 to August 12 but the car park will remain open.

Bridge link from Coventry Point to Barracks car park is going to be demolished

A letter was sent to all local businesses, which said: "The Coleman Group have been appointed to carry out the deconstruction of the Coventry Point multi-storey office buildings, which are situated on Market Way.

"The project has progressed to the point where demolition to the Barracks Way link bridge and the former Red Panda restaurant is now due. These works will be carried out over a 48-hour period commencing Friday 9th August with planned completion Monday 12th August.

"Barracks Way will be closed to vehicles however a signed and fully supervised diversion will be put in place with Barracks Way Car Park and Shopmobility remaining open and accessible throughout the weekend works.

"Access to some shop loading bays may be restricted but can be facilitated when required.

"We will endeavor to minimise any disruption these works may cause to you by carrying out all works in line with best practice.

"We thank you for your co-operation during the demolition works.

"Should you require any further information please contact our head office with reference to Coventry Point on 0121 3252424."

Road closures

  • A lane closure is currently in place on Greyfriars Lane to build an exit from Salt Lane Car Park.
  • Wednesday 7 August and Thursday 8 August 7pm to 7am only - Greyfriars Lane will be closed to allow for road resurfacing. The entrance and exit from Barracks Way will be closed during this time, meaning that Barracks Car Park will not be available for parking during these evening hours.
  • From 7pm on Friday 9 August until 7am on Monday 12 August -  Barracks Way will re-open partially to allow access to the car park and Shopmobility. Marshalls will be on hand to guide people visiting the car park.  This will allow the demolition of the bridge connecting the car park to Coventry Point.

Councillor Patricia Hetherton, Cabinet Member for City Services, said: “There will be some disruption around Barracks Way and Greyfriars Lane this week, but we’ll do our best to keep this to a minimum.

"We’re working with businesses in the city centre to make sure people can still do their shopping, and there will be diversions and marshals over the weekend to help guide people.”

"I wish we had a way of blowing the whole thing up"

Speaking to CoventryLive on the

12th floor of Coventry Point

back in March, Councillor Jim O'Boyle, Cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, said: "If anyone has ever stood at the bottom of Coventry Point in Market Way and had a look around, you can see a shadow across the rest of the city centre.

"I think anyone can see why it needs to come down.

"It's a bit of a blot to be honest. That being said, the building is 40 plus years old.  It has outlived its use now, it's not fit for purpose and this is part of the start of the city centre south, this will see the redevelopment of Coventry South.

See: Inside the empty Coventry Point

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"You can see that it is a development site, so work in this building has started. There's a lot of stripping out, the electric has been cut off, the heaters have been taken off, debris all over the floor.

"The proper demolition work starts later this year. They are going to take it down floor by floor.

"I wish we had a way of actually blowing the whole thing up, but I think we'd blow up half the city centre whilst we did it so we have to do it carefully and considerably.

"Yes there will be some disruption. We're working with local businesses, we're talking to stallholders, and we are very comfortable that we are able to provide them with a good place for them to do their business, and we'll keep disruption to a minimal."

What is Coventry Point?

Coventry Point was designed in 1969 by architect John Madin - the man behind Birmingham’s recently demolished brutalist Central Library - and was completed in 1975.

It is actually two towers joined by glass walkways, but its dull grey concrete exterior has previously been described by the Coventry Society as “unsightly and of poor quality”.

It has had various occupants over the years, including solicitors, a snooker centre and engineering consultants, but was until recently only partially occupied.

Until last year, it was home to more than 40 charities, but they were told to vacate the building by the end of February 2018 and find new homes.

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