The announcement that the £38 million project in the Lower Precinct will finally start has been welcomed by the organisations involved in the scheme.

Even groups forced to move out or made to change their plans by today’s announcement say they believe the changes will be for the best in the long run.

John Heeley, chief executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Promotions, had hoped to transform the round café in the centre of the Lower Precinct into a tourism and ticket outlet.

But he said the disappointment of losing the site was far out-weighed by the benefit to the city as important visitors to Coventry who are being shown the sights have to be shepherded away from the ugly and dilapidated 1950s buildings.

Dr Heeley said: 

"It’s great news that the revitalisation of the Lower Precinct is going ahead.

"Obviously we are disappointed that it appears we cannot use the round café as a Tourist Information Centre. But we are confident we can find an alternative location at the heart of the shopping area."

People needing help from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau will also soon be forced to visit a different part of the city centre as the Corporation Street base is to close as part of the changes.

Managers had been given a stay of execution after an original January deadline to move out passed without them finding alternative accommodation for the service.

Deputy manager Val Horton said negotiations were under way to fix up a new home for the CAB.

She added: 

"Hopefully we will be out of the way before the bulldozers come."

Cllr Sheila Collins, chair of the city council’s Economic Regeneration Policy Team said:

"Obviously this is good news for the city, as this development is a major piece in the city centre jigsaw.

"Most people acknowledge that the area needs a major uplift and the injection of this new development provides another boost to the on-going feel-good factor about our city centre."

Richard Pardoe, property fund manager of Scottish Life added: 

"Lower Precinct is a key part of Coventry city centre’s retailing and the redevelopment proposals will be updating and improving a prime retail position rather than pioneering to extend the city’s retail area."