The deadline for comment on the University of Southampton’s plans to redevelop Connaught Halls of Residence and South Stoneham House to provide over 1,000 bed spaces is Friday, May 8.
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Proposals would see up to 816 bedspaces created across five blocks of student accommodation ranging from two to six storeys at Connaught Halls, and 276 across four blocks at South Stoneham House.
As reported in February, the university ran a public consultation ahead of the formal planning submission, presented with its partner Aspire consortium.
It said at the time in supporting documents: “The University of Southampton is proud to play a major role in the life and economy of Southampton and the wider region. As the city’s second largest employer, we contribute more than £1.6 billion each year to the regional economy – supporting jobs, skills, innovation and inclusive growth.”
The university added that, according to independent analysis, the city faces a significant shortfall of purpose-built student accommodation across Southampton by 2031/32.
This is an assertion contested by one public commenter, who said it appears to “assume business as usual for the UK economy, society and the university sector. However, as academics at the University of Southampton would be able to demonstrate, conditions are far more volatile due to climate change, nature loss, pandemics and geopolitical instability and will become increasingly so”.
Other objectors – several from nearby Friars Way - largely focus on concerns around perceived loss of light, privacy, and traffic and parking concerns in their public comments.
Swaythling councillor Lorna Fielker (Lab) underlined many of these areas in her comment, noting particularly “scale and massing”, “impact on heritage assets”, “residential amenity”, “transport and parking” and “over concentration of student housing”.
Full details of the application, and existing comments, are on the council's planning portal, where comment can also be made until May 8.