Longwood Close
Delivering the first phase of landmark student accommodation.
A landmark £100m student accommodation scheme adjacent to the University of Warwick has reached a major milestone, completing its first phase of 572 beds.
Developed by Topland Group and McLaren Property, and delivered by McLaren Construction Midlands and North on behalf of iQ Student Accommodation, one of the leading providers of purpose-built student accommodation in the UK, the scheme will provide a significant boost to the city’s student accommodation offer for the 2025/26 academic year.
Key points
Unique landscaped location
The PBSA and Co-Living scheme is situated within the Westwood Business Park, ideally located for students from both Warwick and Coventry Universities, with excellent public transport links and leisure facilities.
Longwood Close has been designed to enhance the surrounding green space with high specification landscape finishes. The accommodation will also be used for guests attending conferences at the Universities over the summer break, while the Co-Living space is targeted at young professionals from the local community, providing accommodation supported by the shared amenities within the development.
iQ Longwood Place will create a student living campus, offering 1,078 high-quality student bedrooms and 131 co-living rooms once phase two completes in spring 2026.
The completion
The site boasts extensive community, retail, and leisure spaces just minutes from the University of Warwick campus, and is a 15-minute bus ride from Coventry city centre. It also features social spaces in every block including an arcade, lounge, karaoke room, a range of study spaces, a gym and landscaped outdoor social areas.
Replacing outdated office buildings and a former multi-storey car park, the development saw the demolition of Avon House, Swift House, and associated structures to make way for nine new residential blocks over the course of the two phases of construction. Designed to harmonise with the natural surroundings, the development incorporates high-specification landscape finishes, tree protection zones, and enhanced green spaces.
Sustainability at its core
Designed with sustainability at its core, the development has officially achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating. Environmental best practices were followed, including recycling demolition materials, sustainable waste management via the SmartWaste platform, and careful protection of nearby woodland and watercourses.
Throughout construction, McLaren actively engaged with local businesses and residents and worked closely with Coventry City Council to provide on-site work placements and community updates.
