Coventry City Council's debt total rises to £257m

COVENTRY City Council now owes £257m according to latest figures released by the BBC's Shared Data Unit.

- By DAVID LAWRENCE News Reporter

But that figure is just a fraction of the debts amassed by neighbouring authorities, with Birmingham topping the charts at more than £3bn.

Analysis of data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) shows UK councils owe a combined £122.2bn to lenders, equivalent to £1,791 per resident, as of April 2025.

That is up seven per cent and is the equivalent of £1,677 per resident, a year ago. That increase was mirrored in Coventry where the debt was £249m 12 months ago.

Councils can borrow funds to invest in projects such as schools, leisure centres and theatres. They can also borrow to invest in property that will bring in an income over and above repayments on the debt.