STUDENTS in Southampton could soon be living in swanky flats, high above the centre of Southampton.

Ambitious plans to transform disused office space in the 13-storey Brunswick House building into 156 student flats could be rubber-stamped this week.

If the city council’s planning panel give the scheme the go-ahead tomorrow, then it would only require the formality of planners granting permission later this year.

As previously reported, developer Crummock Estates has applied to transform the 1960s tower block in Brunswick Place, which is largely empty.

If plans for the £7.7m development are approved, it is expected that students could even move in ahead of the start of the academic year in September 2014.

The developer says the flats would be high-quality and have their own en suite facilities while there would also be retail units and a launderette on the ground floor. The outward appearance of the tower block would also be altered.

Both the Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society and the Charlotte Place Campaign Group have objected to the plans.

Councillors have been recommended to delegate the plans to the authority’s planning and development manager, who will grant permission later in the summer if Crummock Estates agrees to a number of criteria.

The conditions include providing refuse and recycling storage and maintaining a laundry room for the students.