News

Coventry Society Committee member, David Porter, has been following up concerns raised about the condition of this Church in Coventry. David writes….. One threat to our heritage which has become more pronounced in recent years involves the growing number of churches at risk, with Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register for 2025 listing nearly 1,000… Read more: The Great Meeting House Unitarian Church

David Porter notes the passing of a building with a significant history.  David writes … In my role as a  volunteer at the City Archives, I have often found myself engaged in the process of scanning and cataloguing photographs of buildings when they were undergoing construction or repair in Coventry City Centre, some of which… Read more: Wild Rover no more

In July, the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport published the outcome of its inquiry into protecting the built heritage – Protecting built heritage: MPs call for ‘reuse first’ mindset to safeguard historic buildings and help hit new homes goal – Committees – UK Parliament. It has significant implications for Coventry and its neglected… Read more: Reusing our neglected heritage

Peter Hunter, the Coventry Society Conservation Area Champion for Hawkesbury Junction, reports on a problem arising in the Hawkesbury Junction Conservation Area. Peter writes…. The canal users service facility building at Sutton Stop closed last year. This was the result of a policy review by the Canal and River Trust which concluded that all non… Read more: Concerns about Building at Sutton Stop

On Thursday 13 th August 2026, a meeting of the Planning Committee was held atwhich a decision was taken to allow application no PL/2026/0000534/FUL, grantingpermission for the construction of a two-storey commercial unit on the site of 34-36Earlsdon Street.By way of background, proposed development of a commercial unit at this site waspreviously allowed on 26… Read more: Planning Application Decision for 34-36 Earlsdon Street

As we all know, there is a continuing and growing issue of empty student accommodation units especially in and around the city centre. There is one large scheme of over 1,000 units which has never been more than two-thirds occupied. Not surprisingly, therefore, owners and managers are seeking alternative residential uses through the planning system… Read more: Tackling the Oversupply of Student Accommodation – A Tale of Two Applications

On 15th August 2026, some 20 Coventry Society members visited Bedworth, where an extensive tour had been organised by Lynda Burton who is Chair of the Bedworth Society and also Secretary of the Old Meeting United Reform Church. The tour started with the opportunity to visit the Nicholas Chamberlaine’s Almshouses, in the corner of which… Read more: A Visit to Bedworth and a Tour of the Almshouses

With a Coventry Society visit to the Vitsœ factory in Leamington coming up this month, it seems an ideal opportunity to look at the remarkable designer whose ideas shaped both the company’s furniture and modern industrial design. German designer Dieter Rams (born 20 May 1932) is regarded as one of the most influential industrial designers… Read more: Dieter Rams and Vitsœ

Hidden among the houses of Coundon, St Catherine’s Well is the oldest surviving structures in Coundon. Now a new gate and information board are helping to reveal the story of this remarkable medieval water source. The small stone well chapel dates from the early 15th century and is Grade II listed. Although now surrounded by… Read more: St Catherine’s Well: Coventry’s Hidden Medieval Spring

Government regulations were approved by Parliament on 30 June which require councils to delegate decisions on planning applications to officers. It is referred to as the “national scheme of delegation” (NSD). The power for the government to take this course of action is set out, in principle, in the Planning and Infrastructure Act, 2025, section… Read more: Will there be a City Council Planning Committee after October?