Plan for huge student complex at Coventry city centre car park - The Coventry Observer

Plan for huge student complex at Coventry city centre car park

Coventry Editorial 1st Feb, 2016 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

A HUGE student flats complex is being planned for a Coventry city centre park under the Ring Road.

Part of the Cox Street car park near Pool Meadow bus station and the sports centre would be sold by Coventry City Council to developers.

CODE Student Housing would build a 1,000-bed student housing scheme in what is billed as a £50million investment.

The plan will be discussed by ruling Labour councillors at a cabinet meeting next Tuesday (February 9).




The council says Cox Street currently has 319 short-stay spaces and is mainly used by people visiting the sports and leisure centre opposite.

A controversial plan to close the Olympic swimming pool there has already been approved.


Just under a half of car parking spaces would be retained at the site.

The new housing would be available for use by students from both Coventry and Warwick universities.

Councillor Kevin Maton, business cabinet member, said: “The University of Warwick and Coventry University have continued to thrive and bring in talented students from across the world, giving the city centre a great new atmosphere and revitalising formerly run-down areas.

“The city centre needs to be active and vibrant by day and by night and having people living here will help create the sort of city centre we want. “Building purpose-built accommodation also means fewer home conversions in local communities.

“For every six students who live in developments like this, it’s one fewer house converted to a home in multiple occupation.”

He said it would also help city centre businesses with trade, adding: “The Cox Street car park is not used to its full capacity and this plan will rejuvenate that area and add to the growing ‘buzz’ around the city centre.”

Council officers believe there is enough car parking nearby at Lower Ford Street, Grove Street and White Street.

Coventry University, which has 23,000 students rising to 30,000 in five years, is also due to take over council buildings when the council’s new office headquarters is created at Friargate near the train station.

Around 5,000 bed spaces are currently available in student halls mainly for ‘freshers’ – first-year students, the council says.

If approved by cabinet, the plan will be discussed at a full council meeting on February 23.

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