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JIM Cunningham has criticised the Government for failing to reverse English Heritage’s decision to grant Coventry Market listed status.
The Coventry South MP raised the issue during a debate in the House of Commons, claiming the decision threatened the ambitious, £1 billion redevelopment of the city centre.
English Heritage granted the market grade II listed status a year ago, despite council chiefs earmarking the building for demolition as part of the Jerde masterplan to redevelop the city centre.
Market traders joined councillors and the city’s MPs in protesting about the decision, backing plans to build a new market as part of the regeneration work.
But following Englsih Heritage’s review of the decision, the Department for Culture, Media & Sport has backed the market’s listed status, prompting Mr Cunningham’s criticism.
In addition, the MP hit out at the Government’s decision to axe Advantage West Midlands, a Government organisation which was to play a vital role in securing investment for the regeneration.
Commenting on the market, Mr Cunningham told John Penrose MP, minister for tourism and heritage: “If architectural design was taken into consideration, the building would not pass muster.
“Had the minister reversed the decision of English Heritage, funding could have been released to kickstart the redevelopment,” he added.
“Instead the Minister has upheld the decision on the market and the coalition has now announced Advantage West Midland (AWM) will be abolished. This means the much needed funding AWM provided to lever in private investment has been lost.
“Coventry’s in danger of being left behind yet again.”
Coventry Market, built in 1957, was granted listed status for the role it played in post-war Coventry, its innovative circular design, and the murals on the market’s walls.

source: Coventry Telegraph.net

TRADERS face a worrying wait while a decision is made on whether or not Coventry Market is to be designated a listed building.

A government decision, which would affect £1 billion plans to move the market was due to be made in March, but it has been delayed again.

Geoffrey Robinson, Labour MP for Coventry North west, says the delays – confirmed by the Department for Culture Media and Sport – are causing anxiety for market traders.

The traders back Coventry City Council’s plans to move to a new circular market building closer to IKEA, under US architect Jerde’s radical vision of a modernised city centre.

But English Heritage last year recommended the government places Grade II listing status on the circular post-War building, considering it to be of “national historic and architectural importance”.

The listing, unless overturned by government, will make it difficult for the giant 1958 building to be knocked down, unless the council can prove it is no longer viable for any use.

Market traders, backed by Mr Robinson and fellow MP Jim Cunningham (Coventry South), appealed to English Heritage on the grounds its original listing proposal contained inaccuracies about the building’s history and architecture.

But a DCMS spokesman said yesterday: “The case has been ready to give to the minister for some time but got caught up in purdah (pre-election hold-ups), the coalition negotiations, the appointment of ministers and the subsequent division of portfolios.