Student flats approved on former factory site

The new 130-room block will be built on the site of a former factory in Charterhouse Road

A new 130-bed student block is set to be built in Coventry after plans were approved.

Factory buildings at Charterhouse Road will be knocked down to make way for the new site, after Coventry City Council approved plans on 21 October.

After concerns were raised over fire safety during a meeting in 2023, councillors said they would only approve the designs if developers Sama Investments followed a safety plan.

A scheme is now in place that will see sprinklers - which must be installed before anyone moves in - located in all bedrooms and communal areas.

According to Sama Investments, the building will be part four and part six storeys tall.

Concerns over a change of use for the building were also voiced at last year's meeting and so councillors have ensured the flats will only be able to house students during term time, varying its use at other times of the year.

Following the decision, Sama Investments chairman and founder Bilal Ahmed said the scheme would add “real value” to the city and meet rising demand for student beds.

“Importantly, it will also help unlock existing family housing elsewhere in the city rather than force students to rely on HMOs and the private rented sector,” he said.

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