£16m Coventry student accommodation completes construction

A BRAND NEW multi-million-pound student accommodation, which includes the conversion of Grade II listed buildings alongside two new builds, has been completed by principal contractor Clegg Construction for developer Kier Property.

Located on the former Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital site, Eden Square has been designed by DLA Architecture. The £16m project involved the conversion of two existing Grade II listed buildings – a former nurses’ home and outpatient’s clinic – into bedrooms and communal space with a further two new built blocks comprising further bedrooms and ancillary space.

The new eco-friendly development contains 344 bedrooms across the four buildings and incorporates a wide range of facilities including a courtyard, cycle store, gym, common room, cinema, private dining suite, shared study room, launderettes, office space and more.

Dave Swift, contracts manager at Clegg Construction, said: “This was a really interesting project thanks to the combination of Grade II listed buildings and brand-new construction, so we’re delighted to have completed the project and see students moving in.

“Working with listed buildings provides its own challenges, particularly as the project was largely built during lockdown, however we’re really proud of the end result and we’re sure that Eden Square will be a place that its residents are thrilled to live in.”

The four accommodation blocks are built around a central courtyard and the design of the two new buildings takes inspiration from the listed facades. The exterior sees distinct bays of red brickwork and tall generous glazing with inset feature panels to create a cohesive overall feel for the development.

The project was forward funded by AIG Investments ready for completion in time for the 2020/21 academic year.

Leigh Thomas, managing director at Keir Property, said: “This scheme has been a great success for all parties involved and I am delighted with the finished product. This scheme is the filth for Kier Property in the last five years bringing our total number of student rooms delivered to 2,727.”

David Lawrence, European development director at AIG, added: “On behalf of the Privilege (AIG) team I would like to thank you and all the Clegg team for delivering such a fantastic project in time for our students to move in.

“It was truly a fantastic achievement by Clegg under the current market conditions and restrictions. I think we can all claim this to be one of the most beautiful and historic student schemes to be delivered in the UK for 2020. Well done all!”

Clegg Construction, part of Clegg Group, is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm that works across a number of sectors including residential, education and healthcare using its nearly 90 years of experience to ensure every project is a success.