Plans for a new 544-bed student accommodation at Westwood Business Park have been submitted to the council but residents are already raising concerns about the scheme.

The six-storey block of flats is set to replace a "dated" 1980s office occupied by Cambridge Assessment, which is now looking for new premises in the area.

Developer Gillwood says the new building will revitalise the area and help meet rising demand for student accommodation in the city.

But people living near the Westwood Way site fear they will lose privacy in their gardens, suffer noise pollution and see a rise in anti-social behaviour.

Their doubts were revealed in a statement of community involvement submitted with plans for the new scheme, based on 120 responses to a consultation held last month.

It stated: "Some local residents were concerned about loss of privacy as a result of the proposed building height.

"They felt their properties would be overlooked and this issue would be further exacerbated in winter months when the trees lose their leaves."

"There were some concerns raised about increased noise as a result of more people living in the area," it added.

Developer Gillwood says the new building will revitalise the area and help meet rising demand for student accommodation in the city (image via planning application)

In response, Gillwood said it would plant more evergreen trees to help mitigate the impact on residents and claimed the new block will be further from people's homes.

"At its highest point, the proposed building is 10.49m higher than the existing building, however this is only to the building's frontage with Westwood Way, furthest from the residential properties which are south of the treeline," they wrote.

"On the southern elevation the new building is very similar in height to the existing building and is further away from existing residential properties than the existing building.

"The proposed addition of 15 semi-mature Evergreen Oak trees to bolster the existing treeline along the southern boundary will also help to maintain resident privacy."

On noise, they said: "A Student Management Plan is submitted as part of the planning application which sets out the procedures to be applied by the building and student code of conduct which will be enforced to ensure a harmonious relationship between building users and neighbours.

"The opportunity for patrols, either tied to the building or shared with other PBSA development near the site, is being explored by the applicant.

"Such patrols would help ensure good behaviour and support positive community relationships around the site as well within the building.

"The applicant is also exploring the feasibility of installing microphones at the rear of the property, so that security staff get an alert if noise levels become too high."

Residents also questioned the need for more student blocks in the area.

The Oaks, a 1,000-bed student accommodation scheme, is also in the Westwood business park and partly opened in 2020.

Plans for another 1,000-bed student scheme at nearby Longwood Close went to the council earlier this year and are still being considered.

The statement of community involvement noted: "The demand for PBSA in the area was questioned and whether there are statistics to back up the case.

"Reference was made to nearby, similar PBSA schemes which were said to have capacity available for this academic year, so if it gets to a point where supply outstrips demand what would the building be used for."

In response, Gillwood wrote: "There is a significant short fall of student accommodation in the Warwick and Coventry area and much of the PBSA there is has [sic] become dated, with facilities such as shared bathrooms and poorly equipped communal areas that are less appealing to students, including international students."

A planning statement for the scheme added: "The proposals will revitalise the existing site, which is currently occupied by a dated office building which does not meet contemporary market demands, bringing vibrancy and activity to the surrounding area through both the creation of a new student residential population and the provision of ground-floor commercial activity."

The new block will mostly contain studio flats along with some bigger apartments, and there will be two indoor courtyards.

Plans are now being considered by Coventry City Council and the public consultation is open until December 8.