Derelict offices in city could be converted into student homes

THE site of derelict former offices in Coventry city centre could be turned into student accommodation.

Officials from Study Inn were this week seen taking a look around the boarded up building on the corner of Leicester Row and St Nicholas Street.

The site used to be a DHL parcel centre and more recently was a gym and martial arts centre, but when that closed last year it became the target for vandals.

In the past few months the site has been fenced off to stop people getting in.

On Monday a group of people in high-vis jackets with Study Inn on the back unlocked the gates and toured the site.

Study Inn already own a number of luxury student developments in the city including the colourful ‘Tetris’ building in Corporation Street which is home to around 200 apartments.

The company also own blocks in Trinity Street and Market Way.

Their rates include all bills and access to shared facilities including gyms, steam rooms, table tennis tables and SKY TV lounges. According to their website the company offer “student living made easy” with a range of en-suite studios in different sizes and shared apartments.

Options include standard studios, deluxe studios, deluxe plus studios, superior studios and superior plus studios which come with the additional benefits of a two seater sofa, console table, games console and a 32-inch TV.

Several other student accommodation projects have already been completed in the city, including Gosford Gate, Millennium View and Belgrade Plaza.

Others under construction or in the pipeline include ones in Fairfax Street and London Road.

Some people are opposed to the schemes, saying the city is becoming a campus, but others say students bring money, and with it the opening of new shops and bars.