Student accommodation summer opening blocked

Reasons for why the move was blocked include concerns over the number of people who would want to park cars at the site

A student accommodation block will not now be rented to non-students over the summer, a council has decided.

Roost Propco 3 Limited, which operates The Oaks on Westwood Way, Coventry had wanted to make the rooms available for families, couples and organisations.

Currently, most students leave when the term ends in May and the only people allowed to stay over the summer are those involved in education, such as visiting academics.

The 378-room block was opened four years ago, but it is largely empty between June and August, the applicant said.

The company also said it would “actively deter” bookings for large weekend groups like stag and hen dos.

But a Coventry council report raised a number of issues, including the number of people likely to bring cars with them, which could have an impact on traffic in the area.

Councillors concluded the bid to vary the scheme’s condition “is not within the spirit or parameters of the original planning consent for student accomodation.”

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

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