69-81 The Point, Commercial Road, Southampton
69-81 The Point, Commercial Road, Southampton
Public Consultation
We welcome your views and ask you to submit comments you may have in the comments box at the bottom of the page or via email to
info@69-81commercialroad.co.uk. We ask for you to submit comments by 3rd September 2024.
This website will be kept live and updated as the application progresses to allow residents to monitor the progress of the application.
The Proposal
Moda Living is seeking the complete redevelopment of the longstanding vacant site to provide approximately 700 Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) bedrooms and associated landscaping.
The Planning Process
The first stage of the process is to consult with residents and the Council on the proposed plans. The project has been through a number of pre-application meetings with the Council, including an independent Design Review Panel.
Moda is now seeking to discuss the proposed scheme with local residents.
Once we have reviewed all consultation responses, we intend to submit a full planning application to Southampton City Council for consideration.
Introducing Moda Living
Moda Living pioneers positive change in the UK rental market, creating high-quality homes and wellness-focused neighbourhoods. From prioritising partnerships with local independent businesses to supporting local employment and regional charities selected by its communities, Moda works extensively to collaborate with its neighbours to create and run thriving new neighbourhoods that benefit all.
While traditionally Moda has specialised in the Build to Rent model, Commercial Road will be its first exciting step into Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA).
The Vision
Currently the site is occupied with a low occupancy, out-of-date office space and parking.
The vision for this project is to create a vibrant mixed use development on an under utilised site within the City Centre. Redevelopment will allow a replacement office space that meets the occupier's requirements and is sustainable.
The redevelopment will capture the opportunity to provide much needed PBSA in a location close to amenities, public transport, shopping areas and the universities. Moda will set a new benchmark for student living in the city.
Creating Sustainable High-Quality Living
Moda is excited at the prospect of creating a high quality living environment in this part of Southampton that caters to the needs of modern students who enjoy, and benefit from, Moda’s ethos of sustainability, wellbeing and creating healthy communities, which forms a part of the physical design and operational management of all Moda developments.
Well Being
Moda Living neighbourhoods are designed to support a wellness-focused lifestyle that helps our communities live their happiest, healthiest lives. The proposed plans aim to foster a sense of community among residents with bespoke amenities and outdoor spaces that will complement their homes and amplify their living experience, allowing them to transition smoothly from living at home.
Regenerating Southampton
Southampton is the largest city on the central south coast of England, with two major universities (University of Southampton and Solent University). There is strong demand for further development focused on the city to allow it to continue to flourish. The redevelopment of 69-81 The Point, Commercial Road is an is an important opportunity to kickstart regeneration in a central area of the city.
Why Purpose Built Student Accommodation?
Southampton has two well renowned universities, the University of Southampton and Solent University. Between the two universities, there are 30,557 full-time Higher Education students (HESA 2020/21 data). This means that one in five of Southampton residences are a student.
There is a lack of PBSA provision for students in Southampton. There are only 3 consents within the city to construct a total of 765 PBSA beds. Of these, none are under construction. The expected delivery of PBSA within Southampton 2025 and beyond is a fraction of what is required.
The result is that students are finding accommodation elsewhere, usually Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs). HMOs are usually family sized houses, and their conversion into HMOs means a loss of traditional and appropriate housing for Southampton families. PBSA lessens the demand for student HMOs and will look to return family sized houses back to the housing stock.
Why Remove the Existing Office?
The office is unoccupied, does not meet modern requirements and cannot be adapted.
The floor plan of the office is too large and inflexible for the requirements of modern businesses due to the change in working behaviour since the pandemic. Working from home and flexible working means that businesses no longer want large offices. The office space is of low quality and not energy efficient. The large number of parking spaces also encourages car use when the city is looking to be more sustainable.
The site has been marketed for a number of years now and there has been no interest, underlining that is it no longer an appropriate building for the city centre.
Trying to make the floorspace be more flexible and correct the energy efficiency issues of the building would be very expensive and discourages investment in the site. The existing building is also unable to fit the layout of PBSA and so cannot be converted.
