Plans unveiled for more student accommodation in Coventry city centre

[dutchman]

The former NSPCC office building on Whitefriars Street could be converted



An office block in Coventry city centre could be transformed into student accommodation if plans are approved. Developers have submitted proposals to turn the former NSPCC office building on Whitefriars Street into homes for students.

A planning statement submitted as part of the applications says that there would be a total of 21 bedrooms in the building, six of which would be for two people, so 27 residents would live there at full capacity.

Each bedroom would have an en suite and access to communal kitchen and living areas, of which there would be one on each floor.

There would also be bin storage, cycle storage and new perimeter landscaping and outdoor space to the rear of the building.

The statement points out that the building is close to Coventry University and ‘is in a highly sustainable location’.

“The site has ready access to the full range of city centre amenities,” it adds. “The development would continue to function as part of an established, highly accessible area which is close to social, community and medical facilities and is appropriate for student accommodation.”

There is ‘still demand’ for student accommodation in the city centre, the planning statement says.

“Improvement of this existing building will bring positive economic benefits,” it adds. “Studies indicate that direct expenditure by universities can generate a comparable level of additional spending in related supply chain areas of a local economy. In addition, spending by students who would not otherwise be in the city adds economic benefits and the presence of a successful university is important to other areas of the local economy, through encouraging inward investment and providing a skilled workforce, so that the total annual economic output arising from Coventry University ’s presence is hugely significant.”

The proposals can be viewed on the Coventry City Council planning portal by searching reference number PL/2023/0001230/FUL

The application will be considered by the council and a decision made in due course.

[dutchman]

I don't recognise the street any more but I think that was at one time the site of a factory making gearbox casings?

By the way, the clowns at the Telegraph included the wrong link to the planning portal which I've since corrected.