Student housing plan for old BT site rejected again

Although plans to add two storeys to the former repeater station have been rejected, it can be converted into a home, a planning inspector has ruled

Plans to convert an old BT repeater station in Coventry into student accommodation have again been rejected.

The scheme would have seen two storeys added to the 77 sq metre block on Fletchamstead Highway.

A government inspector has dismissed an appeal against a city council ruling, but did allow plans to turn the single storey structure into a two-bedroom house with bathroom and kitchen/diner.

The empty block, in woodland off the A45, was decommissioned as a phone repeater station in the 1990s.

It was last used occasionally as an office for the applicant's architecture studio, according to a planning statement.

Two separate schemes for the site were refused by Coventry City Council last year.

Officers cited flooding, highways and noise reasons, and added that the student block would lack natural light, creating an "oppressive and dark environment" for residents.

Having viewed a new report, the planning inspector said the building would have "acceptable" daylight levels, but had concerns about the site's medium probability of flooding.

He also raised problems with levels of noise from the road, and said it would be "challenging" to keep the student block car-free.

The above problems would not be outweighed by the benefits of the scheme, he ruled.

But considering the second appeal, he concluded that flooding and transport issues would not make the building "unsuitable" for a residential use.

The applicant also applied for an award of costs against the council for both appeals, but this was refused by the inspector.

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