The major project off Abbey Street is ongoing
The Grayson Place regeneration project, view from Queens Road.(Image: Daisy Davis)
A row broke out over Nuneaton’s Grayson Place regeneration project as food hall ‘anchor’ talks continue. The multi-million pound project off Abbey Street has been ongoing for several years.
The first phase saw the Hampton-by-Hilton hotel built and then opened in September 2024 and works for. Phase 2 which includes the ‘leisure box’, which is going to be padel tennis courts, as well as the glass fronted food hall, are ongoing.
The regeneration project was discussed during a borough council cabinet meeting at the Town Hall last night (March 4) and Keith Kondakor, who is a county councillor, claimed there were drainage issues on the site.
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“I have been following Grayson Place for a long while and I remember during Covid expressing concern about various bits and pieces, particularly the multi-storey car park that is not happening,
“But one thing that did happen is we have got surface car parks which are not built with proper drainage because they have put down temporary structures.
“Drainage is always thing I worry about there, in the report it mentions drainage with the food court, if you build a large amount on non permeable surface, you will have drainage issues.
“The original Grayson Place designs had rain guards, areas for water for to find their way to soak away, I am really concerned that we are building an area which could generate flood problems there and the neighbouring areas.
“So if we have any land free in Phase 3, which won’t happen, we should be thinking about drainage for the site.”
He also raised eyebrows about the actual cost of Grayson Place project as it is not broken down in any detail in any current council report.
“I think we need a bit more clarity on what is happening,” he said.
Council leader, councillor Steve Hey said:” I am sure we will be getting a full report on Grayson Place in due course.”
The Grayson Place regeneration project, view from Queens Road.(Image: Daisy Davis)
In regards to the claims made about drainage issues on the site, Cllr Chris Watkins hit back and said “He is spreading misinformation again.
“When we took over control in May 2024, Phase 3 wasn’t looked at but we have took some of Phase 3 into Phase 2 so a lot of that will be developed.
“Who says there is no drainage there except for county council Kondakor. We have looked at all of the drainage and we are quite happy with the designs ahead. Who says there is going to be no rain guards? Again, county councillor Kondakor.
“We will see what the final designs bring. We have done a really good job of turning this around and now a lot of Phase 3 will be taken into account when Phase 2 is done and the drainage will be fine.”
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‘Anchor talks’
CoventryLive previously revealed that there are negotiations ongoing with a ‘national anchor tenant’ to take some of the units in the food hall.
While remaining tight-lipped on who this and how many units it will take in the food hall, Cllr Watkins gave an update on the food hall at the meeting.
He proposed that delegated authority permission is given to the director for housing and community safety and also the business and regeneration cabinet member to progress the negotiations with the ‘identified anchor tenant’ for the food hall.
Adding that any prospective future tenants would be approved in future reports that would need cabinet approval.
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