By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter

The decision on plans for a major student accommodation scheme in Portswood has been deferred.

 

Councillors chose to hold off on determining the application for the redevelopment of the Portswood Centre site due to concerns about a significant reduction in retail space.

The proposals for the Portswood Road plot would see the existing building demolished and replaced with two blocks providing a total of 515 student beds.

While the scheme included 563 square metres of flexible commercial floorspace on the ground floor, this was far less than the existing provision of 2,630 square metres.

The application from the joint venture of student accommodation provider Fusion Group and real estate investment firm Tri7 had been recommended for approval by city council planning officers.

'Pure and simple window dressing'

Members of the planning and rights of way panel decided to defer the scheme after around two hours of presentations, statements and questions at a meeting on Tuesday, November 11.

Panel chair Cllr Vivienne Windle said: “At some point we have to look at what our local district centres are and they are retail with accommodation above.

“This retail when you look at it, there is some space but it is window dressing.

“Pure and simple window dressing to me.”

She added: “This is a high street that we need to protect.”

The deferral, which was proposed by Cllr Ginnie Lambert, is to allow officers to hold talks with the applicants about increasing the commercial floorspace.

The application attracted more than 40 resident objections, with several representations given at the panel meeting.

Jerry Gillen, chairman of North Southampton Community Forum, said a decision on the scheme should not be made until there was a more coherent and inclusive plan in place for the whole of Portswood.

'Tipping point'

Jane Jameson, speaking on behalf of Portswood Residents Gardens Conservation Area, said 515 more students in the district centre would fundamentally change its role from providing for the everyday needs of the community into a “transient dormitory with nighttime nuisance attached”.

Ms Jameson said: “I urge you to refuse this application, which will irrevocably change the character of the area, unbalance the community and destroy the viability of the district centre just when it is recovering from the adverse effects of the bus gate.”

Secretary of Outer Avenue Residents’ Association Hilary Jackson said a long-term resident told her they felt as though they were being “driven out”.

Ms Jackson said: “This development will be a tipping point for our local community.”

Simon Reynier, from City of Southampton Society, said the design of the development was over dominant in comparison to existing two-storey properties in Portswood Road.

The two blocks in the proposal would provide a mix of 325 studios, 27 one-bed flats, 83 social studios within 17 cluster units and 80 cluster bedrooms within 17 cluster units.

No car parking spaces would be provided on site.

Julian Evans, development director of Fusion Group, said the scheme’s vision was to regenerate the centre to provide a “modern, attractive” retail space, “significantly enhance” the public realm and deliver “vital” new homes.

Mr Evans said: “Our proposals seek to contribute to the range, quality, purpose and overall diversity of Portswood high street.

“The enhanced modern retail offer is a key component to this.”

'Unique opportunity'

Spencer John, design lead and director at architects Corstorphine & Wright, said the scheme was sensitive to both its location and the community.

The application had not received objections from any of the statutory consultees.

Rebecca Stevens, Fusion Students people and culture manager, said: “We believe the final proposals being considered today deliver an exceptional level of design quality and offer a unique opportunity to positively contribute towards the character, vitality and long-term success of Portswood.”

All three Portswood ward councillors spoke in opposition.

Cllr John Savage said: “This is a really, really important retail area.

“There is a lack of depth to the retail (units) compared to what was previously on offer and foreshortening.”

He added: “What we need is genuine retail offer.”

Cllr Katherine Barbour raised issues with the design, scale and impact of the proposal.

She said: “When looking ahead to what type of community we want to live in, we love our students, we love the vibrancy they bring to our but this must not be at the expense of the people who live who all year round and who pay the taxes that support this city.”

Cllr Marie Finn said she was concerned the number of student accommodation schemes coming forward in the area could create a “campus street”.