Coventry City Council, working with the University of Warwick, has taken the unusual step of arranging with the University to have a road named after Professor Lord Bhattacharyya.

The road running past the Prof. Lord Bhattacharyya Building (the home of the National Automotive Innovation Centre) will now be known as Lord Bhattacharyya Way.

Councillor George Duggins, Leader of Coventry City Council said,

“We wanted to celebrate and honour a man who has done much for Coventry – helping to promote the skills of the city around the world.

“We are proud to be recognising a man who has done the same for business and employment and who not only has an amazing drive, commitment and passion for manufacturing – but also for seeing it succeed in our city.

“So, for a man who has put our city on the road to success, made sure we are heading in the right direction, and kept us streets ahead of the competition – we thought this would be the perfect honour.”

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, founder and Chairman of WMG, University of Warwick, adds “I’m honoured that the City has arranged with the University to rename a road on campus after me. I was given the opportunity by Lord Butterworth, back in 1980, to start the first Manufacturing Group to help organisations innovate and help university researchers change lives. Since then we have made an enormous contribution to the university, the City and the Region, which has helped to create and safe guard thousands of jobs.

“WMG has been instrumental in the re-development of the City’s manufacturing and automotive resurgence and the National Automotive Innovation Centre will enable Coventry to become a Smart Motor City with the development of new technology and mobility solutions.”

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya has already been awarded one of the city’s greatest honours of Freeman of the City and the Award of Merit.