New £13m student flats plan for Coventry city centre

[dutchman]

Plans have been unveiled for a new £13million student accommodation development in Coventry.



Unite Students, which already operates two buildings in the city, has acquired a site which will be home to around 280 students.

If given the go-ahead by Coventry City Council, the new accommodation is expected to open in time for the 2017/2018 academic year.

Althought the exact location has not been revealed, developers say it is close to an existing Unite property serving Coventry University.

Unite Students currently operates Callice Court in Far Gosford Street (pictured above) and Raglan House in Raglan Street, Hillfields.

Once completed, the new development will be part of a 1,000-bed student complex.

Richard Simpson, managing director of property for Unite Students, said: “We are delighted to have secured another excellent site in a strong regional location in line with our development strategy.

“Our properties in Coventry have performed well over the last ten years and this new property will help meet the growing demand for student accommodation in the city.”

[dutchman]

Details revealed on new £20m student flats and retail development for Coventry city centre



The Coventry Telegraph can reveal more details on plans for a new £20million student accommodation and retail development in Coventry.

The new building - which will include around 300 student bedrooms, retail space and restaurants - looks set to be built at the entrance to Far Gosford Street.

Complex Development Projects (CDP), working in partnership with Coventry City Council, have signed up student housing provider Unite Group for the major scheme.

If given planning approval, work is set to start later this year - with the new accommodation expected to open in time for the 2017/2018 academic year.

The project will be the largest investment to date for the Far Gosford Street Partnership, which has been working on the regeneration of the area for almost ten years, and will be the final project in the street.

Ian Harrabin, managing director of CDP, said: “The development of site one will fill in the huge gap left by the construction of Sky Blue Way and reconnects the street with the university and city centre.

“It has always been part of the masterplan to have a major development on this gateway site which will encourage people to walk up the street and boost trade.

“We had originally hoped to secure a hotel, but despite marketing to operators for a number of years, we hadn’t managed to secure any interest.

“The bones of the current proposal with Unite were agreed when we were out at MIPIM (a property trade show in France) last year and we have been working on the detail with them for the past nine months.

“What has resulted is a great scheme of four joined buildings which make the transition between the large buildings of the university and the small scale of the historic street.

“This is an important site - a modern ‘gate’ on one of the main approaches to the city centre and the design of the new buildings reflects this. Unite have been great to work with and intend to remain involved for the long term, holding the building as part of their portfolio.”

New life has already been breathed into the area with the hugely successful new Fargo Village.

Coun Kevin Maton, cabinet member for business, enterprise and employment said: “I’m really pleased that this development is likely to start so soon after the highways work have completed.

“Every new purpose built student scheme reduces the pressure on houses in the surrounding community and by placing students directly in the street there is likely to be maximum benefit to the businesses.”

“The location of the new building - right at the bottom of the street - will help to better connect Far Gosford Street to the city centre and it will sit wonderfully in the new more pedestrian friendly environment that’s being created thanks to European funding.

“Far Gosford Street and Fargo Village are reinventing this historic street and a whole new generation of people are enjoying what it has to offer.”

[rebbonk]

“The bones of the current proposal with Unite were agreed when we were out at MIPIM ...

Need to get that in to justify their forthcoming little jolly at the local tax payers expense!

[rebbonk]

A fuss is being made flapdoodle because whilst cutting services to those that pay for them, this rotten council is doubling the size of the delegation that is going, on what is seen as a jolly, at our expense.

Please continue any discussion of MIPIM at this thread: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=36623, thank you [Dutchman]

[dutchman]

Plans for a new £20m student accommodation development submitted to Coventry City Council



Plans for a new £20million student accommodation and retail development have been submitted to Coventry City Council this week.

Student housing provider Unite Group Plc and Complex Development Projects Ltd want to create a 286-bedroomed development in the city centre - which will also include retail units and a 21-space car park.

The planning application - which looks set to be discussed by the council’s planning committee in March - will see existing buildings at the entrance to Far Gosford Street demolished to make way for a four, five, six and seven-storey building.

If given planning approval, work will start later this year - with the new accommodation expected to open in time for the 2017/2018 academic year.

The project will be the largest investment to date for the Far Gosford Street Partnership, which has been working on the regeneration of the area for almost ten years, and will be the final project in the street.

Ian Harrabin, managing director of CDP, said: “The development of site one will fill in the huge gap left by the construction of Sky Blue Way and reconnects the street with the university and city centre.”

Full details here: http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/ ... KID=765065

[rebbonk]

We are far too reliant on the university.

[dutchman]

A Google street view of the buildings to be demolished:



Built in the 1920s and sometimes known as "French's Corner". People of my age knew it as "The Enterprise Variety Stores", a motley collection of independent businesses. A couple of units on the right had already been knocked down when this picture was taken and it was only a matter of time before an excuse was found to knock down the remainder. There will no longer be a single original building on the north side of Far Gosford Street, west of its junction with Lower Ford Street.

[dutchman]

New shops and restaurants part of green-lit £20million Gosford Gate student development


Coun Kevin Maton (Coventry City Council Cabinet Member for Business, Enterprise and Employment) Sioned Cash, Unite Students Coventry City Manager, Ian Harrabin (CDP).

Plans for a £20million student accommodation and retail development in Coventry has been given the green light by planners.

Construction work will start in the summer on Gosford Gate - the final piece of an 18-year regeneration project in the city.

The scheme – a mixed-use development at the entrance to Far Gosford Street – will feature restaurants and shops as well as 286 student bedrooms.

The development will provide a link between Coventry University and the city’s new creative quarter, anchored by FarGo Village.

Complex Development Projects, which has worked in partnership with Coventry City Council to regenerate the area, is working with Unite Students to deliver the project.

Gosford Gate, together with CDP’s two new office buildings underway on the adjoining site, will create a landmark frontage to Sky Blue Way which is one of the main gateways to the city centre.

Ian Harrabin, of CDP, who has masterminded the regeneration programme, said: “The university is a huge economic driver for this part of the city centre and the gap in the street left by the development of Sky Blue Way in the 1970s created a dead zone that severed the link.

“We first came up with the idea 18 years ago. It has been a very bumpy ride and there were times when many people inside and outside the city did not think it would be possible.

''But I think we and the council have shown determination for the long-term and that, coupled with the strong vision and community buy-in, has really made it possible.

“Far Gosford Street – once this last phase has been completed – will have made a huge transition. None of this would have been possible without major investment from Heritage Lottery and European Regional Development Fund.”

Coun Kevin Maton, the council cabinet member for business, enterprise and employment, said: “Far Gosford Street is one of our oldest and most historic streets.

"It’s been enjoyed by past generations who have lived, worked and traded or shopped in it. Now, this new student accommodation will help to breathe new life into this much loved street all over again.”

[dutchman]

Far Gosford Street to close for giant crane to erect new student accommodation sign

Developers Bowmer and Kirkland have been granted permission to close off part of Far Gosford Street between 5am on September 4 to 5am on Monday September 5 as they erect a sign for the city’s newest student accommodation development.

Bus services are being diverted as the mobile crane is brought in to complete the final construction work.

The accommodation at the entrance to the city’s creative quarter will sit near existing student flats Callice Court and Liberty Point.

National Express Coventry has announced a number of diversions to their services.

Service 4 towards the hospital and service 13 towards Willenhall will divert via Sky Blue Way and will not serve Far Gosford Street.

Service 16 towards Warwickshire Shopping Park will divert via the Ring Road and Gulson Road.

A spokesman for Bowmer and Kirkland said: “We have been liaising with the council for a long time.

“Diversions are in place and its from Sky Blue Way round to the corner of Far Gosford Street.

“We’ve tried to do it on the quietest day of the week. Hopefully there will not be too much disruption.”

Despite the closure FarGo Village will still be open for business.