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New plans have been drawn up to build student accommodation at the former Empire building in Coventry.
A 91-bed student program proposed at 150 Far Gosford Street through the Beauford Group applicant.
Beauford Group said the allocation would be staggered in height up to seven floors and would offer a combination of studios and grouped apartments, as well as 497 m² of advertising area on the floor.
This is the time to be offered at the site after initial plans to demolish the construction of a 100-bed student block were scraped in February.
The withdrawal came after legal experts raised considerations about height and design, while Historic England also expressed considerations for heritage reasons that the proposals do not maintain or the character of the conservation area, criticizing “a serious lack of analysis” about the impact.
The new plans have paid homage to the site’s heritage through the maintenance and existing façade of the Empire, while further scaling back and further reversing residential development.
In submissions of the development plans, the applicants stated: “The previous assignment proposed to completely remove the old ‘Empire’ building and update its façade on the street.
“After receiving responses from Conservation, English Heritage, Urban Design and local citizens and business owners, it was that the design deserved to be evolved to address the considerations raised, the application was withdrawn. “
They added: “150 Far Gosford Street is a major redevelopment opportunity near Coventry University. It offers the opportunity to make greater use of the land and gives it a suitable use to the surrounding context.
“As in many UK cities, the demand for student housing development demands a considered and sustainable approach. By achieving a relatively high density progression near campus, the goal is to mitigate the effect on local residential housing and assist the university in its continued growth.
The building is historic, as it was built as a cinema over a hundred years ago and most recently housed the music corridor The Empire since 2015, which has now moved into a new house in Hertford Street.
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