Southampton student flats scheme set for green light
Controversial plans for a £20m student accommodation complex on the site of a former Southampton bus depot could be approved by the city council next week.
Orchard Homes is seeking permission to construct 260 purpose-build flats on the site of the former Portswood Bus Depot at the junction of Portswood Road and Belmont Road. The three buildings would range in size between three and six storeys and a “”significant number”” of the flats would be occupied by postgraduate students.
The developer, which revealed its proposals for the site earlier this year, has previously said the buildings would be no higher than the neighbouring Sainsbury’s supermarket.
The plans have attracted more than 30 representations expressing concern about the scheme, according to a report set to go before Southampton City Council’s planning committee meeting on 27 October.
But planning officers, which said the proposed development would bring a long-term vacant, previously developed site back into active use, have recommended that the scheme be granted conditional approval ..