Plans to turn student block into shared housing

The Annex on Gordon Street, Coventry, could be converted into a 25-bed HMO

Plans to turn existing student accommodation into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) for 25 people have been submitted to Coventry City Council.

The scheme would see The Annex on Gordon Street change use to house professionals as shared accommodation.

But the plan would also involve removing a restriction from 1998 which stated only students could live in the former office block, due to a lack of parking and amenity space.

A statement included in the application said if the building was suitable for students, it should also be suitable for other residents.

The report also claimed it was “appropriate” to have less parking on the site than the number of spaces the council’s parking standards call for.

Future residents were also “unlikely” to choose to have a car as the site was close to local facilities and was in a “highly sustainable location,” it added.

Living standards at the building were also set improve, the report said, as it was due to get bin and cycle storage.

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