Derelict social club site earmarked for 570-bed student complex

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Derelict social club site earmarked for 570-bed student complex

Postby dutchman » Sat Apr 06, 2019 5:01 pm

The development is planned on land on which once stood the Spencer Club

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Plans have been submitted for a 570-bed student accommodation complex on a derelict site in Earlsdon.

The plans for the development in Albany Road, opposite The Albany pub, have been put forward by Meriden-based Cassidy Group.

The application is for 75 cluster apartments and 130 studio apartments to cater for a total of 570 students, as well as a café/coffee shop on Albany Road which would be open to the public.

The development is planned on land which once sited the Spencer Club and further derelict land to the rear.

James Cassidy, director of Cassidy Group, said: “We have acquired all the land there - it is a large site.

“We are planning up to eight stories of student accommodation on the site.”

Mr Cassidy said the development would help fulfil a growing need for tailor-made student accommodation to cater for students at the city’s two growing universities.

Plans have been submitted for a 570-bed student accommodation complex on a derelict site in Earlsdon.

The plans for the development in Albany Road, opposite The Albany pub, have been put forward by Meriden-based Cassidy Group.

The application is for 75 cluster apartments and 130 studio apartments to cater for a total of 570 students, as well as a café/coffee shop on Albany Road which would be open to the public.

The development is planned on land which once sited the Spencer Club and further derelict land to the rear.

James Cassidy, director of Cassidy Group, said: “We have acquired all the land there - it is a large site.

“We are planning up to eight stories of student accommodation on the site.”

Mr Cassidy said the development would help fulfil a growing need for tailor-made student accommodation to cater for students at the city’s two growing universities.

“We have done a public consultation, presenting it to councillors and members of the public, and generally the feedback has been very positive,” he said.

“The application has now been lodged.

“Hopefully people will be in favour of the site being developed.

“At present it is an absolute eyesore.”

Mr Cassidy said a number of pre-planning meetings had already taken place with Coventry City Council planners.

He said although the plans were at an early stage, if the scheme is given the go-ahead the project would ultimately be professionally managed by an established student accommodation provider.

The Spencer Club was a popular social club in Earlsdon but closed its doors several years ago.

Mr Cassidy said he was unsure when the club was demolished but thought it was in 2014 or 2015.

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Re: Derelict social club site earmarked for 570-bed student complex

Postby dutchman » Thu Jun 13, 2019 8:06 pm

Massive student development includes three-mile exclusion zone for tenants' cars

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A group of residents in Coventry have branded plans for a 570-bed student scheme in Earlsdon a “student block too far”.

And a policy of banning students from bringing a car within three miles of the development has been described as unenforceable.

Cassidy Group wants to redevelop the site of the former Spencer Sports and Social Club on Albany Road, which was demolished in 2016 and is now partly brownfield.

Residents are not against development of the land, but believe the scale – across three four, six and eight-storey blocks, including a cafe – is too great for a residential area.

Nigel Lee said: “We have got to draw a line around the city centre to say enough is enough.

“We consider the railway that point for residential accommodation.

“This is a student block too far.

“It is just too big and it is encroaching into the residential areas.

“Why don’t you have 22 family homes on there? We are crying out for family houses.”

The development – which will be aimed at students from both universities and is accessible by walking, cycle or a bus – contains storage for 190 bicycles but has just 11 cafe car parking spaces and seven for visitors/drop off.

The applicant has put in place a ‘no car policy’ for students, preventing them from bringing or parking a vehicle within three miles of the site.

Those who breach it risk forfeiting their tenancy and deposits, but residents are sceptical over how this will be enforced, fearing students will still park on already overcrowded residential roads.

Mr Lee said: “Parking is already a serious issue and this can only make it worse.

“There is no law to say they cannot park on a public highway or outside somebody’s house and I cannot see how a developer can stop them.”

Five petitions with 171 signatures have been collected, highlighting issues such as lack of parking, traffic congestion, and strain on services, whilst also requesting a high-level security fence onto Winifred Avenue – a place residents say has been hit by a spate of burglaries.

Residents also referenced how plans for 22 houses were previously rejected due to parking being displaced onto residential streets.

Suresh Thadani added: “It will have a significant impact on the skyline but also the number of students will have a great impact on the area in terms of parking, local resources, we have difficulty for residents trying to get appointments for GPs.

“This road is a major thoroughfare on Albany Road and it will cause traffic and congestion with the buses. It will have a major impact on our community.”

Cassidy Group has already reduced the scheme by two storeys and bedrooms from 779 to 570, but residents say the site should be a maximum of 2.5 storeys high.

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Re: Derelict social club site earmarked for 570-bed student complex

Postby rebbonk » Thu Jun 13, 2019 8:23 pm

Complete joke. How would the 3 mile exclusion zone be enforced?

These developers are extracting the urine.
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
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Re: Derelict social club site earmarked for 570-bed student complex

Postby dutchman » Tue Oct 15, 2019 3:44 pm

Plans for new student accommodation blocks return - after five petitions

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Plans for a new student accommodation development in Coventry have been revised - with less bedrooms and the height of the buildings dropped.

Cassidy Group’s previous plans for the former Spencer Sports and Social Club on Albany Road, Earlsdon, led to five petitions of 171 signatures in opposition.

Those plans had been for 570 student bedrooms, while the new planning application asks for permission to build 436 bedrooms.

The maximum storey height on the proposed development has also dropped from eight to six, and security measures have been added for nearby residents.

James Cassidy, Director of Cassidy Group, said a consultation found 87 per cent of respondents had supported the original plans, but changes have now been agreed with Coventry council planners.

Blocks closest to residential neighbours have also dropped to three storeys.

Mr Cassidy said: “The planner wanted the front to be of a lower scale so we have worked closely to come up with that design.

“We have set the building further back and changed the front quite a lot to a more traditional design.

“We have reduced the building by two storeys and some of the projected wings have been dropped back to no higher than three storeys.

“The separation distances are over twice that to the neighbouring houses so there is no overshadowing issues or separation issues.

“The planning officer is now happy with what has been drawn.

“We went through a public consultation and they were happy so we are moving forward.”

Another change is the inclusion of a steel fence backing onto Winifred Avenue – a place residents say has been hit by a spate of burglaries.

A second gated scheme has been proposed to the rear of the site to provide extra security for the building and residents, who will be given a key.

Mr Cassidy added: “It is an extra security for them and for us and that was welcomed by some of the residents.”

Previous concerns in the petitions included impact on residents, strain on services, and lack of parking as no spaces have been set aside for students.

A controversial ‘no car policy’ is again proposed which prevents student from bringing or parking a vehicle within three miles of the site.

Those who breach it risk forfeiting their tenancy and deposits, but residents have said they are sceptical over how this will be enforced, fearing students will still park on already overcrowded residential roads.

Mr Cassidy added: “Lots of student operators use the same policy.

“It is a strong control measure. Yes someone can slip through the net and you can never stop someone from doing anything. But the vast majority of students do not use cars.”

Cycle racks will instead be included to encourage sustainable transport.

A cafe will also be included in the scheme, along with community space.

The developer hopes the plan will be taken to a committee on November 20, and – if passed – it could be operational for 2021.

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Re: Derelict social club site earmarked for 570-bed student complex

Postby dutchman » Mon Nov 25, 2019 1:56 am

Student block with three-mile parking ban passed

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A new student block in Coventry with a controversial three-mile parking ban has been approved by the city council’s planning committee, despite objections.

Planning officer Emma Spandley had recommended approval for the 436-bed block on Albany Road, Earlsdon, at a meeting on Wednesday, November 20.

Six letters of objection were received and protest from Cllr Bally Singh, largely due to a lack of parking and impact on neighbouring residential streets.

Only 21 car parking spaces were included, Ms Spandley said, falling below the requirements set out in the Local Plan for this size building – 109 spaces.

But she said: “Highways raise no objection to the parking as the reduced space has been considered in regards to the nature of the proposed development, expected nature of people staying which is students, and regard has also been given to the wider transport provisions which include bus stops for Warwick University and the city centre which is for Coventry University.”

A ‘no car policy’ had also been proposed by developer Cassidy Group, which prevents students from bringing or parking a vehicle within three miles of the site or face forfeiting their tenancy and deposits.

Residents had previously dubbed the plan unenforceable, with Ms Spandley admitting to councillors that “it isn’t something we can enforce as an authority”.

But she said residents will be able to report breaches to the developer, adding there are already a number of parking restrictions in the area such as residents’ parking schemes and double-yellow lines which should also help deter parking in the area.

The site used to home the former Spencer Sports and Social Club but has been derelict since 2016..

“It has been used for fly-tipping, drugs and anti-social behaviour,” Ms Spandley added.

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Re: Derelict social club site earmarked for 570-bed student complex

Postby rebbonk » Mon Nov 25, 2019 10:59 am

No car policy


:hysterical:

What could possibly go wrong?
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
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Re: Derelict social club site earmarked for 570-bed student complex

Postby dutchman » Fri Apr 10, 2020 4:11 pm

Student accommodation at former social club gets green light

A huge new student accommodation project in Coventry has been given the green light.

Plans to build 436 student bedrooms on the former Spencer Sports And Social Club on Albany Road have finally been given the go ahead this week (April 6).

Coventry City Council's planning committee originally recommended the application be approved in November 2019 - subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement.

It is thought that this has now been completed, with documents showing that the applicant paid the NHS around £12,000 to mitigate the impact of the project on the surrounding area in Earlsdon and beyond.

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£12,000 wouldn't cover the cost of single NHS hospital visit let alone 436 extra patients!
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