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Fargo Village wins national praise

Coventry’s Fargo Village has won recognition at a major national award ceremony.

The independent shopping and creative quarter, which has helped transform the Far Gosford Street area of Coventry, was highly commended by judges at the National Placemaking Awards held at the prestigious Royal Institution in Mayfair, London.

The annual Planning Magazine Awards recognise projects that are making places better and attracted over 200 applications from major projects across the UK.

Fargo – part of the wider Far Gosford Street regeneration project – features independent shops and restaurants, performance spaces and art works.

It was designed to bringer a younger audience, add vitality to the city centre and encourage start-up companies.

The approach has proved hugely successful and Fargo features clothes shops, cafes, a bookshop, hairdressers, artists and fashion stores – and even a scooter dealer. It also hosts regular events and themed days.

Ian Harrabin, the man behind Fargo Village and the Far Gosford project, said: “We were alongside some very large regeneration projects and to be listed in that company and rewarded with a special commendation is a real testament to everyone who has worked on Fargo.

“We wanted to create something which was different, something which had real energy and something that could also be a commercial success.

“That is a difficult mix to achieve – but I think we have done it. The success of the scheme will be judged by the success of the traders but to be recognised with such a prestigious award is a real achievement.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .