AN AGEING block of Southampton flats has been transformed into student halls as part of a £12m revamp.

The Montefiore blocks in Wessex Lane have undergone a multimillion-pound facelift.

A new wave of students is set to fill the accommodation following the lifting of covid restrictions earlier this year.

Built in the 1960s the flats are owned by the University of Southampton which is reported to contribute around £1.3bn annually to the Hampshire economy.

The project included refurbishing all rooms and communal spaces, along with installing new kitchens for a total of 260 students at the halls.

External works involved landscaping, paving, building footpaths and putting up signage and lighting.

Trudi Vout, director of residential services at the University of Southampton, said: “The university is committed to creating the best living experience for its students and the completion of the refurbished halls in another milestone in our ambitious programme.”

Hampshire-based Brymor Construction carried out the work to bring ageing 1960s buildings back into use.

Company Chair, Stephen Morton, said: “There is always a tremendous sense of achievement in seeing buildings come back into use following a major refurbishment.

“This was a substantial project aimed at breathing new life into ageing accommodation blocks to ensure they meet the high standards set by the university and demanded by students today.

“There were a number of different elements which required careful planning and management while ensuring the refurbishment remained on course despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.”