Southampton: New plan for apartment hotel near busy junction

Proposals to build a 34-room development at Winchester Road, Bassett, were rejected by the city council in 2022 and a revised scheme for a 26-room facility was refused earlier this year.

Now the applicant, London-based Sabre Commercial Investment, has drawn up plans for a 20-room complex.

The number of on-site parking spaces has been increased to ten. At the same time, the number of rooms has dropped by six, potentially reducing the demand for parking bays.

Planning chiefs are studying a new proposal to build an 'apart hotel' in Southampton (Image: OB Architecture)

The northernmost part of the complex will now be two storeys instead of three.

Sabre says the new design will "significantly reduce" the overall height and bulk of the proposed development, "greatly improving" its relationship with nearby Nirvana Place.

READ MORE: Plan for 26-bed apart hotel at Winchester Road, Bassett, rejected over parking concerns

Apartment hotels are blocks of serviced apartments offering short-term lets with hotel-style facilities.

A planning statement that accompanies the latest application says the proposed development will appeal particularly to NHS staff working at University Hospital Southampton on short-term contracts.

It adds: "The hospital has previously confirmed an acute need for such accommodation within the city."

Planning chiefs are studying a new proposal to build an 'apart hotel' in Southampton (Image: OB Architecture)

The statement describes the scheme as a well-designed complex comprising 20 rooms available for rent, plus staff office space, a café and a function room on the ground floor.

"The amended proposals have significantly reduced the massing and scale to the northern aspect of the building, which drops in height from three storeys to two, providing a greatly improved relationship with Nirvana Place, and in doing so overcomes the previous reason for refusal.

"The development provides an opportunity to create a new high-quality, landmark building.

"The apart hotel will help provide a new facility for visiting researchers, academics and professionals at both Southampton General Hospital and the University of Southampton, ensuring the city remains at the cutting edge of health care provision and research and innovation.

"NHS workers requiring access to short-term residential accommodation are an identified demographic, which this proposal would provide."

READ MORE: Southampton City Council rejects plan to build 56-bed hotel in 'very depressed' part of Northam

Summing up the document adds: "This revised scheme has addressed all reasons for refusal and is therefore considered entirely compliant in accordance with the aims of Southampton City Local Plan."

The proposed site is near a busy roundabout at the junction of Hill Lane and Winchester Road.

Sabre says the scheme will result in the demolition of two "low value" buildings on what it describes as under-used brownfield land.