Councillors have reacted to initial plans for a major 500-bed student development to replace the current Portswood Shopping Centre, which have now been made public.

Proposals come from Fusion Group, which “builds and operates successful student communities across the country”.

They have been revealed online, and at the first of two public exhibitions at the weekend “to gain input from the community”, before a planning application is lodged.

The site is opposite Portswood Road’s junction with Brookvale Road, and Waitrose.

“The development will introduce approximately 500 new high-quality student rooms, specifically designed to accommodate the diverse needs of students from both Southampton University and Southampton Solent University,” says the scheme website.

“We believe this is important for the many businesses located along Portswood Road as well as people who live in the area and who want the best for their local high street,” explains the downloadable exhibition panels, which offer some more detail than the web page [PDF approx 30 mb].

 

The site would also include 527 square metres of retail space across two buildings “to provide business opportunities to a wide range of potential users”.

Accommodation appears to be planned to span a mix of five and six storeys across the blocks, punctuated by “landscaped outdoor space enhancing the bio diversity of the site”.

Developers say in display materials the proposals will “improve the overall quality of the environment for traders along the road and will also benefit them by bringing many new customers to their doorstep”.

Portswood ward councillor Cllr John Savage (Lab), left, said that not only should the retail area be retained, but it should also retain a “depth of retail offer rather than just a token shop or fast food outlet”.

He said the site should continue to offer servicing from the rear, and that “given the ambitions of the trial Portswood Broadway bus gate scheme”, servicing only from the front wouldn’t be acceptable.

Savage added: “Cllr Finn [Lab, Portswood] and I are also concerned that an increased student presence, may lead to an increase in the fast food offer. We are pursuing a shift in the council planning policies to be able to help shape a more balanced retail district without this shift towards a mainly night time economy. We need to ensure a prosperous [Portswood] Broadway retains a balanced retail offer that meets the needs of the whole community.

“We are working with planning, licensing, parking enforcement and community welfare officers and the City services team to achieve a more pleasant environment for everyone.”

Portswood ward councillor Katherine Barbour (Green), right, said: “My concern is for housing for graduates [and] other people in their 20s and 30s. The city needs to be encouraging housing for young people after study rather than concentrating on the student market.”

Barbour also noted possible concerns over parking and deliveries to retail units. Proposals do however suggest widening of the front footpath to create a loading area.

She also cited construction disruption, sustainability and the significant increase in living units in the ward putting more pressure on services, such as sewage processing resources, as additional concerns.

Adding 500 new living spaces would increase the Portswood population by approximately 3.8%, according to ONS ward population figures.

• Proposals are online at www.portswoodcentreconsultation.co.uk. There’s a second public exhibition at October Books, 189 Portswood Road on Thursday (Oct 24) from 5.30-8.30pm. Comments and questions can also be put to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  by November 4.

Previously
Plans to redevelop Portswood Shopping Centre set for public exhibition
Portswood Shopping Centre sold for £10m; Iceland closing - reports