Coventry approves 1006-bed student village

Coventry City Council has granted planning approval for a new purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development comprising 1,006 beds, to be delivered by Skybridge Property with design by architecture practice Corstorphine + Wright.

The project, known as Mercia Village, will be located on the site of the former AJK warehouse off Burnsall Road in the Canley area, west of the city centre and close to the University of Warwick. The development will replace industrial buildings with a major residential scheme aimed at meeting growing demand for student housing.

The approved plans feature four residential blocks between five and eight stories in height arranged around landscaped courtyards. The accommodation will offer a mix of cluster flats and studios, with supporting amenities including a gym, cinema, common rooms, study spaces, and secure cycle storage for over 500 bicycles.

In addition to private green spaces, the development includes public realm improvements such as enhanced pedestrian access and tree planting along the site’s boundaries. Parking provision is limited to 15 car spaces, in line with local sustainability goals.

The scheme was designed to achieve BREEAM 'Very Good' certification and incorporates energy-efficient technologies including air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, and a centralised plant system.

The site sits within the Canley Regeneration Area, where Coventry City Council has identified opportunities for housing-led redevelopment. Planning officers supported the PBSA proposal, stating it would contribute positively to housing supply, reduce pressure on local housing stock, and align with the council’s wider regeneration objectives.

The planning committee report noted that while the project represents a significant intensification of use, it was not considered to result in unacceptable harm to neighbouring amenity. The scheme underwent design amendments during the planning process to reduce massing and improve landscaping.

Approval was granted subject to conditions including materials specification, noise mitigation, and a Section 106 agreement securing contributions toward local public realm and infrastructure improvements.

Coventry has seen sustained growth in student numbers, particularly from the University of Warwick, which is located approximately 1.5 miles from the site. The council's planning officers acknowledged a shortfall in student-specific housing in recent years, which has led to increased use of traditional housing stock in residential neighbourhoods.

This development is expected to help meet that demand while easing pressure on private rented housing in the city.