Coventry approves temporary fire escapes for HMV Empire, despite “undesirable” look, to prevent its closure amid city redevelopment.
Officials acknowledged these stairs would look bad, stating the large, steel stairs are not ideal. The stairs stick out seven meters, reducing public space and blocking a walking path.
However, they emphasized that closing the venue is the worse outcome. HMV Empire needs to replace a fire escape, which will vanish this spring due to City Centre South work.
A permanent escape will take two to three years, and such a long closure would likely mean a final shutdown. Therefore, the temporary solution is necessary while the city centre gets redeveloped.
Experts stated that HMV helps the city centre a lot. They mentioned full and part time staff, as well as indirect benefits for nearby shops. The venue cannot move easily.
If it closes, artists would lose a midsize venue and have to perform outside Coventry. Although the staircases do not fit in the usually attractive square.
Officials call the stairs visually harmful. They block the public space, and pedestrian access gets eroded too. However, they noted that this harm is only temporary.
Officials stated that other site options are not possible. They know the stairs look bad temporarily, but the city center needs the wider development overall, allowing HMV Empire to keep running.
The stairs will fully enclose each escape route and fit 500 people. Walkers can still pass under the venue’s terrace, and the stairs won’t have space below.
No trees will get affected by the construction. Food stands can stay in the square, although a couple of stands might move on the street. The venue will add artwork to the stairs, featuring famous faces and past gigs.