City centre 'saturated' with student accommodation

2 hours ago

David BentleyLocal Democracy Reporting Service

News image — Concerns were raised about congestion and air pollution caused by the development

BBC Large tower blocks in Coventry city centre. The first two in the centre of the image are curved buildings in brown metallic colour. The building on their right is angular and reflective. The street below it seems empty with a handful of parked cars — Concerns were raised about congestion and air pollution caused by the development

Coventry city centre has become "saturated" with student accommodation, a councillor has claimed, following the approval of plans for a purpose-built student block that will add up to 400 beds to the city.

The proposed new accommodation block next to University of Warwick attracted a petition of more than 100 signatures and dozens of letters in opposition.

Councillor Pervez Akhtar told planning committee meeting the development would lead to air pollution and congestion.

Coventry City Council planners acknowledged that there was an oversupply of student units in the city centre, but said the campus was separate and did not have enough space to meet demand.

"No-one is against purpose-built accommodation and our children are our future," Akhtar said.

"But I have been on this committee for 10-11 years and we have saturated our city with purpose-built student accommodation.

"There will be air pollution, there will be congestion, during the construction and also after the construction.

"Where are the new roads? Where are the new bus routes? If we go back several years we haven't built any roads there, we haven't introduced any very light rail or light rail."

Councillor Kevin Maton disagreed, claiming: "Just round the corner is a bus route and the university has probably got the best bus service in the whole of the city because it runs until late at night. In terms of infrastructure and public infrastructure, it's very well served."

Maber A computer generated image of some building, trees and people sat on picnic blankets — The plans will see existing buildings demolished to make way for the student blocks

A report on the latest proposal, by planning officer Richard Edgington, explained that the University of Warwick had about 7,500 students and the campus was expected to grow substantially.

The university wants to increase the number of student beds by 1,200 by 2033, either on or adjoining the campus.

New student accommodation sites are already under construction elsewhere, with more expected.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.