Summary:
- Southampton city councillors deferred approval of Fusion Group and Tri7’s proposal to redevelop the Portswood Centre site into 515 student beds, citing concerns over a sharp reduction in retail space from 2,630 to 563 square metres. The decision followed extensive debate and more than 40 resident objections highlighting potential harm to the district centre’s character and community balance.
- The joint venture’s plan includes two blocks with a mix of studios, one-bed flats, and cluster units, but no on-site parking. While planning officers recommended approval and statutory consultees raised no objections, local councillors and community groups emphasized the need to protect genuine retail provision and questioned the scale and design’s impact on the high street.
- The deferral allows further discussions between council officers and the developers to explore increasing commercial floorspace. This reflects wider concerns about maintaining Portswood’s role as a vibrant local retail centre amid growing student accommodation, with calls for a more comprehensive strategy to manage the area’s evolving community and economic dynamics.
Original article:
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/25599488.decision-portswood-515-bed-student-flats-deferred/
