Southampton City Council has shared its support for the demolition and redevelopment of a student accommodation block in which “significant” fire safety concerns were raised
As reported by BBC News, the council’s Planning and Rights of Way panel heard on 4 March 2025 that the fire safety defects at the 16-storey Mercury Point development on Duke Street “go beyond just changing the cladding on the building”, with a full demolition and replacement of student housing recommended.
While the scheme is only 20 years old, having been built in 2004, case officer Andrew Gregory said that owners Unite Students had considered the fire safety issues in detail but that the viability of remedying the issues raised was “challenging”.
As highlighted in the planning proposal: “Works needed to remedy the existing fire safety deficiencies would include installation of a sprinkler system, upgrading the fire protection to the building structure, and the external cladding being removed and remediated with materials which prevent spread of fire. Such retrofitting works would require significant cost and undertaking. Given the extent of deficiencies and the nature of the frame construction, UNITE have taken the decision that this is not viable. UNITE instead seek to address the fire safety issues with a replacement building providing updated accommodation with improved amenities and layout in the interests of student well-being, and to reflect the changing requirements of modern-purpose built student accommodation.”
Gregory told the panel meeting: “Unfortunately, [the building] suffers from fire safety defects that were discovered recently, and the owners Unite have been in discussions with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service on that. It is a steel-framed [construction], which has fire protection issues that go all the way back into its structural frame.”
He added Unite wishes to “replace the existing block due to the existing fire defects but also give opportunities to improve the student accommodation on site”. The proposed plans for the new development will be up to 21 storeys high and able to accommodate 783 students.
While objections were raised by some members of the public regarding the increased height of the building, the panel were told that the new sustainable construction has been designed in such a way that it can be converted into normal residential housing if needed.
As reported by the Daily Echo, panel member councillor Sue Blatchford asked why the building could not be refurbished, but later admitted that if the fire safety issues affected the core of the building, then demolition was necessary:
“I think hopefully now with all the changes within the fire regulation side whatever is built in its place will be much safer for students or residents in the future,” she said.
According to the media outlet, councillors “unanimously approved” the planning application for the redevelopment of the student housing site.
Unite Students initially shared its plans to submit a redevelopment application for Mercury Point at the end of 2024. At the time, the student housing body said it had invested in the region of £90 million over the last year to “upgrade properties across its portfolio and improve service levels, and this continues to be a key priority”.
Design and planning architect at Unite Students, Katy Snodgrass, said: "The redevelopment of Mercury Point creates an exciting opportunity to regenerate the site and provide a best-in-class student accommodation development."
In agreement with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, the existing student site will be closed in summer 2025, with works expected to start at the end of the year.
The full planning application decision can be found here.
(Image by Unite Students)