A campaign by local residents against "overbearing" student accommodation has led to plans being pulled at the eleventh hour.

Almost 70 people wrote to the council objecting to the 544-bed block which was set to replace disused office building Progress House in Westwood Heath.

Hundreds also signed petitions against the controversial plans which were due to go before Coventry's planning committee tomorrow (22 March).

But despite a recommendation from council officers to approve the block, developers Gilltown withdrew the application today.

In the past few weeks, people living in Westwood Heath have told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) about their concerns.

People have dubbed the building "overbearing" as it will be six storeys high at its tallest point – twice the height of the office block it will replace.

Long term resident Yasmina Gainer whose garden borders Progress House said she and her family could be forced to leave if the block is built.

"I think we would have to [sell.] The privacy would just be gone," she said. "It will overshadow people's gardens."

Her neighbours are even closer to the boundary, she added.

Hundreds of residents have signed petitions against the plans (Image via LDRS)

Residents are also fed up with the sheer number of purpose-built student accommodation schemes in Westwood Business Park.

Three of these buildings have got the green light since 2020 and the area will get over 2,000 extra students if all the beds are filled.

It has led locals to fear they will effectively be living in a student village. A letter with their objections stated it would "create a concentration of students that far exceeds the current population of lower Westwood Heath, thereby changing the whole balance of the community and putting extra strain on local amenities and services."

The letter also says they are not convinced by a student demand analysis showing need for the block which was done by consultants and based on Warwick's figures for 2020/21. It calls for a review done by the council and universities instead.

One resident told the LDRS: "It's like, when is enough enough?

"Nobody seems to be listening to us. I am a pensioner and I have spoken to a lot of residents that are the same way – just devastated and really upset."

Students in the area cycle and ride scooters on the pavement, they said. "The amount of near misses, it's a wonder somebody hasn't been knocked off."

Many near the Oaks accommodation have had to complain about noise at night and in the early mornings from parties. But "nobody takes any notice."

They also raised concerns about pressure on services. "If you try and get a doctors appointment, you can't. How are you going to support another 500 students? It just doesn't make any sense."

Ian Stevenson, Chairman of the Westwood Heath residents' association, added his voice to the campaign.

He said the block would be "totally out of scale with the location" unlike other schemes which are further away.

Progress House at the Westwood Business Park (image via GDL Architecture/Design & Access Statement)

"It's too close to many people, too large a building," he said. "That's the main gripe. Its prominence and size, being overbearing."

He added that while moving students out of HMOs into purpose built blocks could in theory help communities, the move has "backfired" in areas such as Westwood Heath.

"What's happening with this is over-saturation [of students] in a different form. It's kind of backfired now," he said.

Asked for comment, Gilltown said the block would be 39 metres away from the nearest house and protected with a barrier of evergreen trees. The six-storey high section would also be 69 metres from homes.

They added: "The University of Warwick's student population has continued to grow since the pandemic, and at 40% it has the highest proportion of international students among its peers, as well as a higher-than-average proportion of postgraduate students.

"These students prefer to live in modern ensuite rooms, not HMOs or long corridors with shared bathrooms.

"The University is also currently constructing an extension to its hugely successful Business School, a new Arts Faculty building and an Exhibition Centre.

"This expansion is due to the continued strong demand for in-person learning rather than any move towards predominately online teaching.

"Gilltown is a family-run business, committed to partnering with Coventry and its residents for the long-term benefit of the city.

"We are pleased our application has a recommendation for approval from planning officers to bring forward much-needed modern student accommodation; and after our team's thorough technical work, there are also no objections from highways officers, the flood authority, sustainability, waste management, archaeology, ecology, or environmental protection officers."

Asked about the withdrawal today, Gilltown said: "Following a review of the local community's petitions, we have decided to withdraw our application and resubmit it alongside further information about the need for student accommodation in this location, as well as new visual evidence to help the community understand how the new building will relate to its neighbours.

"Unlike previous student applications in the area, our team has worked proactively with the Westwood Heath Residents Association and Westwood's ward councillors.

"We therefore think it is right to postpone determination of the application so that we can demonstrate to members and local residents how their feedback has helped shape our plans."