‘Luxury’ 14-storey student scheme set to be given green light
CITY CENTRE SITE IS EARMARKED FOR 496-BED ACCOMMODATION
A ‘LUXURY’ 14-storey student accommodation block in Coventry city centre to provide almost 500 rooms is expected to get the green light.
Applicant Vita Student, which describes itself as providing “nextlevel apartment design”, has put forward plans for the purpose-built student block towards the edge of the ring road on Warwick Road.
It comes after a previously withdrawn application last year, but the latest set of plans have been recommended for approval by council officers ahead of a committee decision on Thursday, July 16.
In planning statements, Vita Student, said: “The proposals respond to an unmet need for high-quality, purpose-built student accommodation in Coventry to cater for international students and for students with higher disposal incomes, particularly those attending the University of Warwick where the opportunities to live off campus are currently limited.
“The application seeks permission for a bespoke building of outstanding architectural quality, which will respect and enhance its surroundings, which will be positively managed and which will offer an unparalleled student experience.”
The scheme spans 15,837 sqm and consists of 496 ‘studio apartments’ across one 12-storey block and a second 14-storey block.
Three courtyard gardens have been incorporated within the plans, while it will also includes communal study, fitness and social areas, a breakfast canteen and 124 cycle storage bays.
Plans will demolish the current units across 23, 25 and 29 Warwick Road, which includes the post-war Bank House adjacent to the Greyfriars Green Conservation Area. That has led to objections from the Coventry Society which has called for the Bank House at number 23 to be retained, or original parts of the 19th century structures at units 25 and 29 to be incorporated in the design. “The current application is an improvement on the one in 2019 that was withdrawn, but is still not acceptable and should be refused,” the Coventry Society has said.
“A satisfactory solution can be found if the developer is willing to respect the city he wants to build in.”
A further 21 letters of objection have been received but planning officer Anne Lynch has said the buildings are of “limited historic interest” and of “low significance”.
The last application led to concerns about the impact on the Conservation Area and planning officers last time said the new plan needed to produce a “high quality design to justify the loss of the existing buildings on site”.
Ms Lynch said ahead of a final decision by the committee: “The proposed development is considered to be acceptable in principle and will result in a well designed development to replace the buildings to be demolished.”
The current application is an improvement on the one in 2019 that was withdrawn, but is still not acceptable