Coventry is looking forward to £6 billion of regeneration investment, triggering the biggest boost to the construction industry since the city's re-birth after the Second World War.
More than 9,000 jobs will be created in a council drive to improve the shopping, leisure and business environment.
The face-lift also involves the construction of more than 2,500 houses and flats, chiefly on brownfield sites.
Over £1 billion of the expected spend is planned for the city centre in a range of projects to complement the Phoenix Initiative millennium regeneration scheme, which was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize - the Oscars of the architecture world.
Key developments include:
* Belgrade Plaza - £100 million mixed use scheme that will include two hotels, a casino, five bars and restaurants as well as 300 apartments and parking.
* Belgrade Theatre - £12 million seven-storey extension with a new second auditorium which will allow 'theatre in the round'. Plus a new rehearsal facility.
* Swanswell - £600 million regeneration covering 160 acres. It will create 2,000 new homes, a Learning Quarter as well as one million square feet of office space, swimming baths and sports centre.
Other projects include completion of a £15 million scheme to improve and extend the Herbert art galleries, a £100 million plan to turn the former Park Court tax offices into luxury apartments and a £13 million extension to the Transport Museum.
The final £17 million phase of Electric Wharf will also turn the city's first power station, a five-storey building by the Coventry Canal, into luxury flats, offices and workspace.
Coventry is also the location for Ikea's first city centre store. Dave Arrowsmith, cabinet member for regeneration and regional planning, said he found it hard to keep up with all of the changes.
Coun Arrowsmith added: "We are in the midst of an exciting time for Coventry, with so many developments recently completed, in progress or scheduled to start."
