Coventry Student Block Seeks New Use Amid Empty Rooms Situation

A student apartment complex is not full. Managers need a solution to keep it open. Manor Park Court might rent rooms to non-students. They need approval for this temporary change.

Erec Estates wants to ensure the building stays afloat. They want to use all 79 units flexibly. They will only rent to others if students don’t fill rooms. Managers want to keep the building for students.

They hope to increase occupancy this way. This will make operations sustainable, they explained in plans. The new use would be for three years. They hope the student market improves by then. Professionals needing short-term stays may rent.

These renters must stay at least three nights. They won’t share flats with students. The city center building is only 15 years old. Some flats are already open to the public.

The plans showed student housing issues in Coventry. A 2023 report said Coventry will likely have too many student beds. There may not be enough students to fill them. Oversupply hurts student demand the most.

Brexit and Covid reduced international student numbers. This has impacted UK universities too, they added. Other student buildings made similar changes. The council approved five changes in recent years.

This shows the problem is not just this building. Coventry City Council has not decided yet. They received the plan last week, February 14. You can find details on the council’s planning portal. The reference number is PL/2025/0000182/FUL.