496-bed student scheme gets the nod in Coventry

It'll span up to 14 storeys high



Coventry is to get a new 496-room student block in the city centre rising up to 14-storeys high after planning approval was granted.

Applicant Vita Student said its purpose-built student block towards the edge of the ring road on Warwick Road responds to an “unmet need” in the city and will cater for students with higher disposal incomes, particularly those attending the University of Warwick.

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 102 cycle storage bays – a drop from 124 due to alterations at the front, but the bikes will be free for students to use under a Section 106 agreement which was described as a “city first”.

The plans were given approval at a planning meeting yesterday (July 16).



The plans will see the demolition of 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.

Only one councillor, Roger Bailey, voted against the scheme due to the loss of the current Victorian buildings.

He added: “Let's not forget the influence these buildings might have had on famous writers. George Eliot went to school opposite. Angela Brazil who lived in the end house was a major writer at the time and she would have some influence of this setting. When we get rid of these buildings we are getting rid of part of our heritage.”

Who is going to be living in these in 2025 did nt CCC watch on the news the other day, no , I thought not. .