Coventry Student Development Could Be Blocked

Reports indicate that the council will take measures to stop a proposed student accommodation block in Coventry from being built.

Planning officers have advised councillors to make the former Co-Op building on Corporation Street a locally listed building.

The recommendation has been put forward by planning officers after a developer proposed the demolition of the former site, which would be replaced by two 12-storey student accommodation blocks.

Although a local listing of the site would not provide it with the same protection as fully listed status, it would make it much harder for the demolition to take place.
According to planning officers the site should be protected because, among other reasons, it is one of the major buildings of Coventry city centre’s post-war reconstruction.

The application for local listing will be heard at a public planning committee meeting this week.

Site owners EDG have insisted that the move is not necessary as the reports of the site being demolished are not accurate. In fact, the company is committed to the vision of transforming the existing structure as first reported in October 2015.

EDG's property director Neil Edington, said that it was hoped more detailed could be revealed by the autumn and that they hope work can start on the site by the middle of 2017.