[10
APR 00] PHOENIX INITIATIVE NEWS
Phoenix Bars Get Thumbs Up
BY ANTONY HOPKER
Plans
to open seven bars and cafes at the heart of the Phoenix Initiative
have moved a step closer after Coventry City Council agreed to grant
provisional licences for the development.
It
means that the £20 million Priory Place development will include
several new bars and restaurants.
There
will also be 85 new flats and an underground car park in the
development, which should get underway this autumn.
The
firm responsible for the project, which is part of the Phoenix
Initiative, say the granting of the licences means it will be easier
to attract would-be tenants.
Ian
Harrabin, managing director of Complex Development Projects, said
there already has been a lot of interest from national chains eager to
move to Coventry.
He
said it had been quite difficult to explain the entire project while
it remained on paper.
But
he added that the licences were a good way of showing people that
something would be happening.
He
said:
“This
is quite an important step in terms of marketing to tenants. I
cannot reveal any names but there is already a list of eight parties
that have expressed serious interest.
“The
Phoenix Initiative is not just like designing a building. We have to
wait for the outcome of the public inquiry before we know when
things will be happening.”
“It
will be Coventry’s mini-Brindley Place, but there are flats
instead of offices.
“All
being well we should be open for trade by December 2001.”
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