Hotel plan for empty city centre shop basement

The basement of the Co-op building on Corporation Street could become holiday lets

An empty shop basement in Coventry could become a hotel aimed at business people and those in the city on leisure breaks.

Plans to turn part of the Co-op Building at 18 Corporation Street into short-stay holiday lets have been lodged with the city council.

If approved, the site's "large" basement floor would be converted into 24 studio rooms with "ensuite and kitchenette".

Some of the internal rooms would not have windows, which the applicant conceded is "far from ideal", but stressed it would not be permanent housing requiring "higher levels of amenity".

Other budget hotels have the same situation, it claimed.

The basement would also get other facilities like a breakfast room and laundry room, with the ground floor used as a reception.

The aparthotel would be managed by a specialist company with 24-hour access arrangements, and people would be able to stay for a maximum 28 days.

The corner unit where the hotel would be based has been empty for two years, the planning statement added.

Coventry City Council is yet to decide on the scheme.

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