New plans for historic buildings in Coventry city center have been unveiled

Coventry’s historic houses, which have been empty for two years, could be given a new lease of life. Plans for 9 and 10 Priory Row in the city center were submitted to the council this month on July 19.

The red brick houses with attractive blue doors are Grade II listed and nearly 300 years old. Over eighty years or so, they have had a wide range of uses, including as the home of the Mutual Permanent Building Society, an English study center and charity headquarters.

Most recently, the pair was still being used as office space. But from the start of 2022 they are vacant, according to plans put forward by Coventry Cathedral.

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This could soon change, however. The cathedral wants to convert part of the buildings into three new flats, including a four-bedroom flat, a one-bedroom flat and another one-bedroom flat for visiting clergy.

Other parts of the buildings would be used as offices for clerical functions by the church, the plans added. The move would include replacing small parts of the roof to stop leaks and changing some of the homes’ interiors.

It would mean a “limited amount” of historic material is lost, which would do little harm to the significance of the houses, a heritage statement admitted. But it said this would be “less than substantial damage” under national policy – and would mean the buildings have a viable use.

The changes are “largely cost-based” and mostly include installing new toilets and bathrooms and making the buildings “safety compliant” for modern offices and homes. An oil tank outside the houses is set to be demolished as it is no longer needed.

The cathedral also plans to make some smaller changes to the interior of 11 Priory Row, known as St Michael’s House. The Grade II listed building from the 1700s is used by the cathedral as offices.

The plans can be viewed on the Coventry council website at reference: PL/2024/0001382/LBC.

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