By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter

 A controversial student accommodation scheme on the site of Portswood shopping centre has been approved by the narrowest of margins at a council meeting.

Planning and rights of way panel chair Cllr Vivienne Windle had to use the casting vote to determine the proposal to redevelop the Portswood Centre.

The joint venture project from student accommodation provider Fusion Group and real estate investment firm Tri7 will see the existing building replaced by five and six-storey blocks providing 508 student bedspaces.

Retail units will be provided on the ground floor, however, the overall customer floorspace will be around a third less than the existing offer.

The application went before the committee for the second time on Tuesday, December 16, having previously been deferred to allow discussions to take place with the applicants over the amount of commercial space.

Revisions were made to the plans with the removal of eight student beds to allow an increase in retail floorspace of 43 per cent from what was previously proposed.

The scheme still attracted opposition from residents and ward councillors.

Jane Jameson, speaking on behalf Portswood Residents Gardens Conservation Area, said she strongly objected to the changes in the amended plans.

She said: “This is a token response and it is completely inadequate, particularly given the massive scale of this development.”

Ms Jameson also raised concerns about the loss of the car park on site and the redevelopment having no rear delivery access.

Portswood ward councillors Katherine Barbour and Marie Finn spoke at the meeting.

Cllr Barbour (Green) said: “I think this is a really enormous building which will overshadow the end of Portswood Broadway and it could set the scene for further similar developments of a similar nature.

“It doesn’t look anything like shops on the Broadway.”

Cllr Marie Finn (Lab): “This is a huge block that will dominate the area.

“The design and size will alter the character of the area even if there is viable retail attracted back to the area where there is going to be shops.”

Julian Evans, development director of Fusion Group, said the proposals provided a vision to deliver “much-needed regeneration” of the site.

Mr Evans said: “The revised proposals seek to ensure maximum flexibility and provide the best opportunity for a successful diverse and long term retail offer to be established.”

The panel heard subject to completion of the section 106 legal agreement, the developers would be in position to move to delivery in early 2026 and open the new accommodation by summer 2028.

The applicants said they were committed to engage with the community around the type of uses that could be considered for the commercial units.

Tim Clark, of property consultants Vail Williams, said: “In terms of the commercial space proposed, I believe this will give the opportunity to introduce some interesting new occupiers to Portswood Road and act as a catalyst for further improvement of the area.”

Panel members had mixed views on the application.

Cllr Rob Harwood said he was still disappointed in the overall reduction in retail space.

He said: “I don’t feel like I can support this application and I would cite damage to the retail offering, the loss of the current retail offering and potential damage to the district centre’s viability unless the square footage is brought back up to what’s been lost.”

Cllr Christian Cox said he maintained his hesitance with the student needs assessment that had been put forward by the applicants.

The blocks were too big and in the wrong location, Cllr Sue Blatchford said.

Cllr Ginnie Lambert said: “I really feel the impact on our district centre is too much.”

Cllr Richard Blackman said the development would smarten up the public realm in the area and he was less concerned about the retail impact as Portswood had seen quite a turnover in businesses over the past 15 years.

Chair Cllr Windle, pictured left, said various issues remained with the proposal but there was insufficient evidence to justify refusal in planning terms.

Her main concern related to the retail offer but she said there was no information the council could rely on to disprove what had been put forward by the applicants.

She added: “I am struggling to find a reason to vote against it.”

After the panel voted three in favour and three against granting the application, Cllr Windle used her casting vote to approve the scheme.

Photo of Vivienne Windle: Southampton Labour/LDRS