Student accommodation plans in Coventry snubbed with Covid-19 uncertainty cited

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A residential route has instead been preferred



The coronavirus and "uncertainty around student number growth" have been cited among reasons for snubbing two bids for student accommodation in Coventry city centre.

The council is to approve the long lease of land at Parkside, Paradise Street, next week for 494 private residential apartments.

But a report ahead of the meeting revealed two separate bids for student accommodation on the land have been snubbed, partly due to Covid-19.

The prime city-centre spot is adjacent to Coventry University’s campus and attracted a ‘pure student housing led scheme’ and a ‘mix of student and private housing’, but both bids are recommended to be turned down despite generating more income to the council.

However the city's regeneration chief said plans for more residential, rather than student housing, had always been on the cards.

However, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration Cllr Jim O’Boyle said the virus was “not really” the main reason for opting against student accommodation as the council had already been keen to secure more residential homes prior to the outbreak.

“We have been keen on trying to find housing other than student accommodation,” he said.

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'Reduced demand' in overseas students in Coventry leaving rooms empty, says operator



A new student block in Coventry could be used as a hotel or guest house for almost two years with the coronavirus reducing demand and having left many rooms empty.

Work was completed at The Prestige Student Living accommodation at 33 Parkside in September 2018 and it ran at full capacity for the first two years, operators said.

But Covid-19 has led to “reduced demand from overseas students” for its 262 rooms, with operators applying to keep 131 rooms for non-student use until August 2022.

Temporary permission was secured last October for 131 rooms to be used as C1 accommodation – a hotel, boarding or guest house – until August 2021.

Operators now want to extend the period for a further year as demand still hasn’t picked up.

It is one of a number of applications since the pandemic to temporarily turn student blocks into residential or other use, which has sparked calls from Coventry Conservatives for a review of student need amid fears the pandemic has reduced long-term demand.

A decision is expected by Coventry City Council by the end of April.