Almost a thousand homes have been given the green light in this first phase of City Centre South, including 200 affordable homes, along with space for shops, businesses, as well as a public open space.

The new development, is designed by architecture firm Allies and Morrison and is located within a five-minute walk of Coventry train station.

Construction at City Centre South is scheduled to start in the autumn, with the first homes expected to be completed in early 2027.

The preliminary works are to ensure the site’s heritage is understood, recorded and preserved prior to the beginning of construction.

A team of archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology has begun a survey of the site with trenches taking place in various locations, starting in the Barracks car park before moving to Bull Yard and Shelton Square.

•   The Finance Professional Show 2023: The Video
•   The Hill Group bolstered future development starts by £4.3bn in 2023
•   Octopus Energy and The Hill Group partner to deliver 'zero bills' development

The works are estimated to take seven to eight weeks to complete and will include the excavation of 23 trial trenches of varying sizes and depths, seeking to locate the line of the historic city wall as well as identify any other archaeological remains.

Items of significance found during the works will be logged, protected, and covered for further investigation until the site has been cleared.

Hill and SGP are working with Coventry City Council and west Midlands Police to ensure emergency protocols are in place should a piece of unexploded ordinance be discovered, left over after the city’s bombing during the second world war.

Andy Fancy, Managing Director at The Hill Group commented: “We are committed to carrying out the archaeological investigation works at City Centre South both safely and sensitively to protect any historical findings before the start of construction.

"These works are a routine part of the development process and essential due to the development’s location at the heart of Coventry’s historic centre.”