Plans have emerged to convert part of a student residence in Coventry’s central area into multi-occupancy housing.

The scheme relates to Fortress House on Corporation Street, where operators say they have faced sustained low student occupancy that cannot continue indefinitely.

They have submitted a full planning application seeking permission to transform the third and fourth storeys from student housing into two separate houses in multiple occupation.

The third level would accommodate 16 ensuite bedrooms alongside two communal cooking facilities, while the fourth level would contain five ensuite bedrooms with one shared kitchen.

According to the submission, both levels already possess individual HMO licences granted under housing legislation, though the new plans call for larger, formally registered multiple occupation units.

The application cites Brexit, the pandemic and an oversupply of student dwellings in the city as factors behind the request.

It references a 2023 independent study by StuRents which notes that Coventry has undergone a phase of significant expansion in student housing supply, creating conditions likely to present extended difficulties for operators as availability surpasses demand.

The proposal states that the property has struggled with consistently poor student take-up that renders long-term viability impossible.

Permitting increased flexibility to rent units to non-students under HMO arrangements would allow more effective building management, decrease prolonged vacancies and deliver more consistent occupancy throughout the year.

Crucially, the scheme would help address local housing requirements while leaving current family residences unaffected. The accommodation would target young working professionals and recent graduates looking for central living near jobs, amenities and public transport.

This approach would boost local expenditure, assist in recruiting and keeping qualified workers and provide a more varied housing mix within the city centre.

Converting the existing student accommodation in this way offers a practical and environmentally sound solution to shifting market conditions, ensuring the building continues to serve housing needs rather than standing largely empty.

The application is under review by planning officials and can be viewed on the council website in the planning applications section under reference PL/2026/0000867/FUL.