Flexible student accommodation at Sherbourne Student Village Vincent Street, Coventry

The site

Sherbourne Student Village has four blocks, including studios, self-contained units, communal facilities, management offices and secure cycle storage.

“REASON FOR DECISION • The proposal is acceptable in principle. • The proposal will not adversely impact upon highway safety. • The proposal will not adversely impact upon the amenity of neighbours. • The proposal accords with Policies: DS1, DS3, H10, R4, JE1, JE6, DE1, AC1, AC2, AC3 and AC4 of the Coventry Local Plan 2017, together with the aims of the NPPF.”

“Block A contains 35 self-contained units, Block B contains 24 self-contained units and is the main block with communal facilities such as a gym area, co workspace, media room and meeting room. Block C contains 36 self-contained units. These blocks are set to the rear of Block D.”

Officer report

How the proposal would work

Students would normally use Blocks A, B and C, non-students Block D, with separation maintained where occupation overlapped.

“Student occupiers will be allocated rooms within Blocks A, B and C in the first instance. Non-student occupiers will be allocated rooms within Block D in the first instance. In the event that either the ‘old’ or ‘new’ blocks are fully occupied by students and non- students respectively, students will be permitted to reside within Block D and non- students within Blocks A, B and C where it is possible to maintain a degree of separation.”

“There is amenity spaces located within all blocks. Both students and non-students will be permitted to utilise these shared facilities. Both students and non-students will benefit from weekly cleaning of communal areas, waste collection, security, parcel collection and so on.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Highways, environmental protection and West Midlands Police raised no objections, and no neighbour representations were received.

“CONSULTATION No objections received from: - • Highways • Environmental Protection • West Midlands Police Services Neighbour consultation Notification letters were sent out to neighbouring houses and three site notices were displayed on the 24 th July 2025.”

Officer report

Objections raised

A ward councillor objected over safety, student wellbeing, Coventry University’s attraction and the character of the area.

“A Ward Councillor has objected and referred the application to Planning Committee on the following grounds: • Each application should be considered on its merits. The fact that permission has been granted elsewhere to this applicant and developer is not a reason alone to grant planning permission.”

“The proposal could adversely affect the ability of Coventry University to attract students when prospective students discover that the safe haven of the student only accommodation can be lost, through development and potentially offered to those whose lives and values are incompatible with the higher education. • Finally, the proposal is out of keeping the with character of the area and the objectives of the major residential redevelopment that is in progress.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A ward councillor’s objection was read out, and the agent spoke in support of the application.

The committee’s decision

The committee granted planning permission subject to conditions, following an amendment reducing the temporary period from five years to three.

“The Late Representation report included an update to condition 1 – to amend the change of use proposal from 5 to 3 years.”

“RESOLVED that planning permission be granted in respect of Application PL/2025/0001377/FUL subject to conditions.”

Minutes