Uproar in Canley as plans change from new homes to student village

[dutchman]

Planning consent was granted for 44 dwellings in 2015 - but now student homes are proposed



Residents are in uproar after 44 homes they thought were going to be built for local residents are now proposed to be developed as a student village.

Just a week before a ward forum meeting, it was revealed that plans that had been submitted for 44 dwellings to be built on the site of the former Canley Sports and Social Club will be turned into student homes.

Residents received leaflets explaining the new student village and councillors received the booklet a week before the ward forum which was held on March 23.

The scheme, proposed by developers Urban Pulse, has been called Warwick Uni Village.

Their brochure says the site benefits from planning permission which they “have had our professional team mimic to provide for a student village of approximately 44 houses with a range of beds per house.”

However, residents and councillors in the Westwood Ward have said they are prepared to start a petition against the changes.

Cllr Tim Mayer said: “I hope that this change of use is refused when the planning application goes through the process.

“I am very supportive of good affordable starter or family houses going up at the former Canley Sports and Social Club and a submission for planning permission was given for up to 44 dwellings on the site in 2015.

“We want to see as much engagement as possible from residents and would urge all residents to Email OFFICE@SYKESPLANNING.CO.UK with comments.

“Canley has changed significantly in the last few years and now has an air of confidence and optimism that we need to support and grow.

“New families coming into the area will do this. A gated student village cut off from the community does not.

“We will be engaging with residents with a view to petition against this change of use.”

Cllr Marcus Lapsa stands alongside Cllr Mayer and has also raised concerns about the need for houses for residents and not student accommodation.

The area has seen a massive change to date, and has had the delivery of the Xcel Sports Centre, Charter Primary School, the new Prior Deram Park and almost 350 new affordable houses.

Cllr Lapsa added: “As a Westwood ward councillor, I am all for the regeneration of Canley, but we need more houses for residents not more student accommodation.

“The original plan was for 44 houses which we welcome.

“If a student village is required it could be built on the university site.

“This site should be used for houses that will be available for residents.

“We will work with the community to get the best for Canley with regards to housing needs.”

[dutchman]

First look at £22m student village plan developers say will 'create hundreds of jobs'



Plans for a £22million student village, which would be home to 450 students, have been unveiled.

A revised planning application for the former Canley Sports Club site, on Marler Road, in Canley, has been submitted to Coventry City Council - and artist’s impressions have now emerged of what the scheme could look like.

Developers Urban Pulse want to create a “managed student village” under the title “Warwick UniVillage”. It would include 38 low-rise town houses and 452 rooms, as well as 45 parking spaces. There would also be an “amenity hub” and space for 160 push bikes.

These plans represent a slight downscale of previous plans which aimed to build a development with 472 rooms.

The developers say this scheme would free up homes in the local area for families, would create 162 permanent jobs and would bring an economic benefit up to £5.8million a year after construction is completed.

Plans for affordable housing on the land have been abandoned in favour of the student accommodation scheme.

Councillors in the Westwood ward have said they welcome students but have said the land should be used for more affordable housing.

[dutchman]

Councillors blast proposals for new student village in Canley



Coventry councillors have blasted proposals to build a new student village in Canley.

They are calling for affordable and family housing to be built on the land instead.

Councillors in the Westwood ward have said they welcome students but have said the land should be used for more affordable housing.

Westwood ward councillors have collected 114 signatures through an online petition on the council website and resident Nicola Bullingham has more than 200 on Change.org.

Councillors recognise the site has been disused for too long, and although they want to see it redeveloped, they say it must be in a way that benefits the Canley community.

In a joint statement Cllr’s Skinner, Mayer and Lapsa said “We reject the developer’s view that this redevelopment would reduce pressure on the local housing market. The housing needs in Coventry are much greater than the numbers they are building here and the HMO will continue unless more is done in policy. With more than 314 local residents signing a petition against this build we hope the council listens.”

“We do not think it reasonable to destroy green fields less the two miles away when this land was originally giving planning for houses. We absolutely welcome the promise for jobs and investment during any construction phase but are calling on Coventry council to reject plans for a potential 300-bed gated student accommodation block, as we believe the site would be much better suited to helping the Canley community grow by providing much needed starter and family accommodation and adequate associated parking.”

Cllr Mayer added “This project is not designed to help the community as suggested by James Patterson of Urban Pulse, this is about his own profits rather then what is best for the local community.

“With another block planned by him on Standard Avenue he can see the profit without giving true thought to the best locations for such developments. With empty industrial land nearby and closer to the university he could build there as others are doing.

“Westwood councillors of course want to see this site redeveloped and brought back into use. It has been disused for far too long, but it must be in a way that benefits the Canley community.

“There’s a strong feeling locally that a better use for this site would be family housing that includes affordable homes. We’re therefore calling on the developer to go back to the drawing board and come back with plans that are more acceptable to the local community for the redevelopment on the former Canley sports and social club at Marler Road.”

The proposal will be going into the planning committee on the November 16.

[Melisandre]

Before long we will all be forced out of our homes to live in Birmingham outskirts to house students.

[dutchman]

Plans for £22m student village in Canley are approved

A proposed student village to be built in Canley has been unanimously approved by planning officers.

However, despite the approval, the proposal has faced some backlash from local councillors.

In a joint statement Councillors Skinner, Mayer and Lapsa said previously: “We reject the developer’s view that this redevelopment would reduce pressure on the local housing market. The housing needs in Coventry are much greater than the numbers they are building here and the HMO will continue unless more is done in policy.

“With more than 314 local residents signing a petition against this build we hope the council listens.

“We do not think it reasonable to destroy green fields less the two miles away when this land was originally giving planning for houses. We absolutely welcome the promise for jobs and investment during any construction phase but are calling on Coventry council to reject plans for a potential 300-bed gated student accommodation block, as we believe the site would be much better suited to helping the Canley community grow by providing much needed starter and family accommodation and adequate associated parking.”

Work will begin on the development, which will be built on the former land of Canley Sports and Social Club in Marler Road, in February 2018.