Shop owner 'in the dark' amid city centre revamp

Sabur Kirimi worries how he will provide for his wife and children after he has to relocate

A businessman has said he has been left in the dark about when he will have to leave his premises amid a multimillion-pound redevelopment of Coventry city centre.

Sabur Kirimi runs a tailor shop in the City Arcade but fears he may lose custom once he has to relocate.

Shoppers have also told the BBC they are in favour of the Coventry City Centre South £450m makeover but wish they had a better idea of how and when the plans will unfold.

The city council has declined the chance to comment.

The city council, which backed the first part of the plans, said the first homes should be ready by early 2027

The redevelopment sees areas including City Arcade, Bull Yard, Market Way, Shelton Square and Hertford Street being transformed.

It makes way for 1,000 homes along with shops, bars and restaurants to create a "thriving" new neighbourhood, but some shop owners fear the impact it could have on their livelihood.

Just a handful of businesses remain in the area to be redeveloped, waiting until they are told they will have to leave, BBC CWR reported.

Mr Kirimi, who moved to the UK from Afghanistan in 2015, said: "From 2018, it was good I had no problems but now that has changed.

"They [the council] haven't helped me find anything else. I've waited, I've asked, I've sent emails, but I’ve heard nothing at the moment.

"I have a wife and two kids, I'm worried about how I will provide for them."

Regular shoppers Charlie Rowan-Lancaster and Casey Leaver from Earlsdon said the area did not feel as busy as it could be.

"It might be helpful to have some indication of the timescale in some of these boarded up shops. Something visual to manage expectations, that would make a difference to help you to see what is coming rather than what is not here," they said.

The council said the aim of the City Centre South project was to bring people "back into the city to live, work, play, and socialise"

Demolition for the first phase of the project is due to commence in early 2025, subject to approval by the council.

The project's developers, The Hill Group, said: “Throughout the planning stage, we have actively engaged with the community through a series of public consultation events and shared information widely through a dedicated development website and through extensive local press coverage."