Historical significance and Conservation Planning

Far Gosford Street is one of the few streets in Coventry to have survived the combined effect of modernisation, the effect of dilapidation and the Blitz.. Both the medieval street and some of its buildings are preserved, where closer into the city centre major changes have taken place in the last 100 years. The street forms the eastern end of an east-west route that ran through the medieval town of Coventry from Spon End to Far Gosford Street, along Spon Street, Smithford Street (now under the Precinct),  High Street, Earl Street and Gosford Street.

Much of the city centre was destroyed in the November 1940 Blitz, but Far Gosford Street largely escaped serious damage. As a result, the street  thrived as a shopping area in the 1950s while the city centre was gradually being  rebuilt. Far Gosford Street was blighted by a plan to build a by-pass road on the north side. Decline set in, businesses began to move away and buildings deteriorated. Sky Blue Way was eventually opened in 1986, diverting much through-traffic and passing trade.

Eventually the historical and architectural importance of the street was recognised by the declaration of the Far Gosford Street Conservation Area on 21/10/1992. From then on all planning proposals needed to demonstrate how they preserved or enhanced the character and appearance of the conservation area. But planning controls were not going to be enough to arrest decline. Investment was required to repair historic fabric and encourage new businesses. In 2005 the Townscape Heritage Initiative was established, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the City Council, and the economic and physical regeneration of the street began. The regeneration programme has since expanded and attracted Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund, as well as a private sector development partner, Complex Development projects Ltd.

By 2012 the appearance and economy of the street should have improved significantly, with the completion of some important building and restoration projects and their occupation by new businesses.  This will mark a new phase in the story of the street, which will be no longer characterised by decline, but by economic prosperity within a regenerated historic environment.