John McGuigan, Director of Economic Development & Planning, rightly boasts that there is £4 billion of new development either underway or in the pipeline which will transform the City of Coventry over the next 5-10 years into a "City for the 21st Century".

The new Arena Project incorporating the largest Tesco store in the UK, a 100,000 sq ft Casino, a major Sporting Stadium and Conference Facility will provide much needed regeneration to the north extremities of the City.

The Swanswell Project, which is developing from the City Centre northwards, will provide a comprehensive mixed use development on some 150 acres. Remarkably, some 80% of it is already in the control of public or quasi public bodies. The City of Coventry is currently working with those owners of the private sector in seeking their cooperation. The development currently envisages incorporating a new City College, schools for all ages providing a seamless transition from childhood to adult education with shared facilities, sports ground, libraries, theatres, etc. Between these two is a major 60 acre development Paragon Park which is currently obtaining planning consent. This will provide 1,250,000 sq ft of residential space and 500,000 sq ft of commercial space, including restaurants, bars and leisure facilities, around a non operational marina and canalside development. D&P Holt Limited are the retained agents for the developers Paragon. All this activity will provide further opportunities for developments in the northern sector of the City.

Coventry has also been identified as part of the IT corridor sponsored by Advantage West Midlands and this has attracted major development to the University of Warwick Science Park in the form of a large £30 million grant from Advantage West Midlands and £22 million from Ford to support a new Motor Design Centre of Excellence on the University of Warwick Science Park.

Advantage West Midlands are also fully supporting £100 million development at the Royal Agricultural Society grounds at Stoneleigh to promote it as an area for public education and enjoyment in the countryside. D&P Holt Limited are Consultant Surveyors to the University of Warwick Science Park and Paragon and have, or have had, involvement in all of the above projects.

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