Developers ask if they could instead open Northampton student flats as hotel until Covid passes

The owners of a student accommodation block in Northampton's high street are asking the council if they could instead open as a hotel for the next two years until the pandemic is over.

Following the first coronavirus lockdown in March, students in halls of residence across the country were told to return home where possible and vacate their flats.

Just one of the accommodation blocks affected by this was Compton House, a 92-bed student flat complex on Abington Street.

Now, the owners of student digs block, Mr Stoyan Boydev, is asking the council if they can instead open Compton House as a hotel until the threat of the virus passes.

A planning statement put to the borough council by Northampton-based MWK Architects Ltd reads: "Our clients’ concern [in March] was the uncertainty as to the date when student life would return to some sort of normality, and more importantly, the number of students that would return to the university.

"If those numbers are low and remain so for the foreseeable future, then the concern is that occupancy rates in Compton House will be severely affected and this will jeopardise the long-term viability of the building."

The proposal maintains that the change of use would not be permanent or require "major alterations" to the building.

Compton House opened as a student accommodation block in 2016.

The statement claims the proposed hotel would be "cose to what you might expect in a good hotel or serviced apartment", including a concierge service, a kitchenette and en-suite bathroom to each room and town centre access.

The plan is set to be considered by the council in December.