By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
The redevelopment of Portswood Shopping Centre into over 500 student flats has been delayed with developers blaming “wider economic challenges” and businesses occupying the units already closed.
Join the discussion on Facebook >>
Article continues after this message...
The joint venture project from student accommodation provider Fusion Group and real estate investment firm Tri7 was expected to start in early 2026 with the accommodation opening in 2028.
Before, pictured in January 2024, and boarded up pictured April 2026
Marie Finn, councillor for Portswood (Lab), said she was “upset and outraged” the development had stalled.
Cllr Finn, pictured left, who opposed the scheme alongside fellow ward members, said: “This stalling feels like a betrayal of the community.
“They have closed many good businesses – The Broadway pub, Sue Ryder, Farm Foods, Subway, a locksmiths, a useful dry cleaners and more.
“All these shops could have continued to trade.
“What we now have in the Broadway is a large derelict building that looks horrible and attracts dumped rubbish and anti-social behaviour.
“This is the last thing that Portswood needs at a time when more people are shopping online.”
Boarded up units
Cllr Finn said she would work with local authority officers to see what could be done to mitigate these issues and bring trading back into the space to benefit the high street.
A Southampton City Council spokesman said: “We are in discussions with the developer now that we have been informed that they will need to delay the start of the demolition, which they attribute to wider economic challenges.
“We will be urgently seeking confirmation on the way forward over the coming weeks and our priority is to ensure we can do all we can to mitigate any impacts this delay may have on the local community of Portswood.”
The former Broadway pub
The redevelopment will see the shopping centre building replaced by five and six-storey blocks providing 508 student bedspaces.
Retail units will be on the ground floor but the overall customer floorspace will be around a third less than the existing offer.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service approached Fusion Group for comment.
Businesses and residents react to stalled Portswood Shopping Centre
Join the discussion on Facebook >>
Article modified 17/4/26 to include photos of the boarded up former shop premises
This article is from the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Some alterations/additions may have been made by our site - a BBC Local News Partnerships member. BBC-funded LDRS journalists cover local authorities and public service organisations, with content shared by all partners.