Coventry student accommodation block prevented from leasing rooms in summer

A student accommodation block in Coventry has been prevented from being rented to non-students over the summer break in a decision made by the city council.

The Oaks, which is located on Westwood Way, was opened four years ago and contains 378 rooms, with prices beginning at £154 per week. 

The purpose-built accommodation is largely empty between June and August, as students usually leave the block once the university term finishes. 

Roost Propco 3 Limited, which operates The Oaks, wished to make the accommodation available to families, couples, and organisations over the summer, in an effort to boost the site’s “commercial viability”. 

The company argued that the proposed changes would have had “clear benefits” for the city

Currently, the block is only available to those involved in education. This means that the accommodation usually hosts visiting academics and those attending conferences during the summer period.

The company argued that the proposed changes would have had “clear benefits” for the city, with extra accommodation available for visitors attending local events and seeking jobs. 

The owners added that they would “actively deter” bookings for large weekend groups, such as stag dos and hen dos, in an effort to gain support from the council.

Despite the claims made by the company, a report by Coventry City Council raised potential issues which could occur if the accommodation became available to non-students.

One issue raised was that visitors to the accommodation block would bring cars, increasing traffic levels in the area.

[The request is] not within the spirit or parameters of the original planning consent for student accommodation

Coventry City Council report

Another reason noted was that original permission for the block to be built four years ago had been given on the condition that it would hold a “close relationship with the University”. The report claimed, however, that those staying in the building over the summer would not be linked to the University, and as such could ‘undermine’ the block’s shared facilities. 

The report concluded that The Oaks was not permitted to be let out to those not involved in education over the summer break.

Councillors involved in the decision said that the request was “not within the spirit or parameters of the original planning consent for student accommodation.”