West Midlands-based Urban Village Capital has raised the bar for university accommodation after achieving a first-class transformation of a former Coventry office block. Ringway House has undergone a £15m renovation and features a mix of studio units and a range of bedroom apartments that will accommodate four to seven students.
Birmingham-based Urban Village Capital has overcome the obstacles of lockdown to deliver full completion of its latest luxury £14m apartment development. Knight’s House, a stunning nine-floor former office block in affluent Sutton Coldfield, features a total of 63 apartments – including 12 penthouses, and continues the company’s upward spiral and
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
West Midlands-based Urban Village Capital has raised the bar for university accommodation after achieving a first-class transformation of a former Coventry office block. Ringway House has undergone a £15m renovation and features a mix of studio units and a range of bedroom apartments that will accommodate four to seven students. The 94-bed property, which will be the envy of the city’s large student population, is available to house students from this September. Ringway House, located near the city’s Belgrade Plaza complex and major transport links, will help meet the increased demand for high-quality student accommodation in the dynamic university city, which is home to both the University of Warwick and Coventry University. Coventry has witnessed increasing student numbers over the years and is ranked the fifth best city in the UK by website Fresh Student Living. Coventry’s profile is set to increase as it prepares to be the UK’s 2021 City of Culture. These factors make the city a highly-desirable location for students both from the UK and overseas – 42 per cent of students in the city are from abroad – further increasing the demand for quality student residences. Urban Village Capital’s Ringway House more than meets the requirements of today’s modern students. The mix of studios and apartments feature high-speed internet, and are completed to a high-spec and stylish finishing. Students will also have use of a communal gym, games room, study areas and laundry. It also comes with a communal courtyard, cycle storage, parking – which includes electric charging points, and on-site staff. The refurbishment has also seen a new lift and the installation of acoustic glazing to reduce noise. The Ringway House development will provide hassle-free student living and is managed by Homes For Students – one of the UK’s leading student accommodation operators. The practical completion of the project has continued to maintain Urban Village Capital’s reputation for taking tired, unloved buildings and revitalising them into stunning living spaces. Nick Sellman, chief executive at Urban Village Group, said: “Today’s students are in search of accommodation that is safe, affordable, comfortable and meets their needs. “Ringway House definitely delivers all this. We have looked at what students want and created some amazing living and communal spaces so they can learn and live and really enjoy their time at university and in the city. “It is a great central location with easy access to the universities as well as the city centre, which will help boost the local economy and breathe new life into the area.” Sellman added: “The building and its services will be fully managed by the country’s biggest student operator, Homes For Students, who have award winning standards for care for both their students, staff and local community engagement. “Homes For Students has an excellent track record in managing student accommodation of the finest quality across the UK and we are really pleased to have them on board, as we know they will make the arrival of students into the heart of Coventry a real success.” More details on Ringway House are available at https://wearehomesforstudents.com/student-accommodation/coventry/ringway-house
Birmingham-based Urban Village Capital has overcome the obstacles of lockdown to deliver full completion of its latest luxury £14m apartment development. Knight’s House, a stunning nine-floor former office block in affluent Sutton Coldfield, features a total of 63 apartments – including 12 penthouses, and continues the company’s upward spiral and ambition to be a major player in the private rental sector. Having announced practical completion in November, Urban Village Group has had to negotiate the issues posed by the COVID-19 lockdown before being able to open up the rental market. While the finishing touches were completed to the property during the lockdown, Urban Village Group offered two-months rent-free accommodation to NHS workers serving in Birmingham’s hospitals during the height of the COVID-19 crisis. Knight’s House adds to the company’s growing portfolio of build-to-rent developments, which also includes The Old Arts School House in Sutton Coldfield. Urban Village Capital plans to add a further 247 apartments next year having recent purchased a landmark office block in the Yardley area of Birmingham. Urban Village Group are pioneering the conversion of unloved former commercial buildings and turning them into desirable living spaces, which is aiding the UK government’s push for 300,000 new homes every year. Birmingham has been identified as a key location for the government’s plans as it looks to create a Commonwealth Games Legacy. The city is hosting the games in 2022. Urban Village Capital chief executive Nick Sellman said: “Knight’s House is a stunning addition to the Birmingham residential rental market. “The final couple of months of the development did pose one or two challenges, but nothing that we haven’t been able to overcome to add this development to our growing list of properties. “We are continually sourcing and developing tired properties to transform them into highly-desirable living spaces. There is a huge demand for quality properties across Birmingham and we are playing a key role in delivering those homes and helping the government achieve its ambitious targets.” Urban Village Capital made use of the government’s housing rules allowing existing offices to be built upwards to increase housing stock. Consequently, Knight’s House was increased from seven to nine floors to accommodate the new penthouses. The property features spacious one or two-bedroom stylish apartments, which will meet the needs of today’s modern professionals. Each apartment offers premium designer kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms and come with chrome fittings and laminate wood flooring. One of the key innovations in the building is the addition of hyperoptic broadband, which delivers connection speeds of up to 1GB. The superfast connectivity is expected to have huge appeal to those professionals have the desire and capability to work-from-home after the lockdown. New tenants will be able to benefit from an exclusive broadband package, while tenants taking a 12-month lease will qualify for one month’s free broadband. Viewings are now available and can be arranged via residential lettings agent Centrick. Contact them via email birmingham@centrick.co.uk or call 0121 347 6116. The development also includes a restaurant and office suite.
