Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 15 February 2021

WORKS have started on the interior of the upper floors of the former Co-operative store on Queens Road in Nuneaton town centre, opposite the Ropewalk Shopping Centre.

The interior refurbishment works are being carried out inside of the Art-Deco building to transform the space and create a ‘brand new’ office and workspace business hub, which will accommodate new town centre businesses.

Once these initial works have been completed, the contractors who are working with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council will then start work on the exterior of the building where they will carry out brickwork repairs, preserve external finishes, and renew the doors and windows.

The Art-Deco building which once housed part of the former Co-op building plays a ‘significant role’ in supporting the delivery of the ‘Transforming Nuneaton’ programme – a programme that aims to transform the prosperity of the town centre whilst developing a thriving cultural and leisure offer.

Borough Council Leader comments

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council Leader, Councillor Julie Jackson, said: “[This is] another step to transforming the old Co-op building. Last year we saw the premises take on a new lease of life with fashion name Label moving into the ground floor, now it’s great to see progress taking place on the floors above too.

“The scale of the former Co-op development offers such diverse space for a multitude of new businesses with a huge variety of potential use, it is set to be a great asset to Nuneaton town centre for many years to come.”

Warwickshire County Council Leader comments

Leader of Warwickshire County Council, Izzi Secombe, said: ““Following the purchase of the former Co-op site, it is brilliant to see some of the retained buildings beginning to get a new lease of life.

“This wonderful building will be a great asset to the town and will be a big attraction for new businesses. 

“The development of the Co-op site is part of the ambitious Transforming Nuneaton programme, which is a partnership between the County Council, Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council and Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

“I am really pleased to see this project start to be delivered and look forward to it being open for business.”

With almost £900,000 in total going towards the regeneration of the former Co-op store, Coventry and Warwickshire’s Local Enterprise Partnership are pleased to see the progress.

CWLEP Board Director’s thoughts

Sean Farnell, a Board Director for the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “There are many exciting plans on the horizon for Nuneaton town centre and it is great to see such a significant initiative taking shape.

“The state-of-the-art business centre will provide much-needed facilities for micro and start-up businesses and entrepreneurs as we start the recovery from Covid-19 and transform the leisure, commercial and retail facilities in Nuneaton town centre.

“Transforming Nuneaton is an initiative in which the CWLEP is playing a major part from a funding perspective and the business centre will help to boost the local economy.”