Contentious proposals for an apart hotel have secured planning permission almost a year after councillors gave the green light.

Sabre Commercial Investments Ltd brought forward the scheme for the redevelopment of the site at the corner of Winchester Road and Hill Lane in Bassett.

Members of Southampton City Council’s planning and rights of way panel backed the application at a meeting in November last year.

The application received its formal decision notice on October 30 alongside a legal agreement between the developer and the council.

Apart hotels operate in a similar way to traditional hotels, however, rooms come with their own cooking facilities meaning they are self-contained with an option to use the communal spaces.

The development on the corner of Hollybrook Roundabout will see the demolition of two vacant former office buildings.

A building of up to three storeys with 20 serviced rooms, a cafe meeting space and 10 car parking spaces will be built on the site, which is currently boarded off.

A design and access statement submitted on behalf of Sabre by Winchester-based OB Architecture said the scheme would provide short-term professional let studios.

“The proposed short-term professional let studios will help to address the underlying need for high-quality, affordable accommodation for varying overnight visitor categories in Southampton, namely families, friendship groups, students, professionals and business travel,” the statement said.

Two previous large developments on the site were refused by the council in June 2022 and January 2023, respectively.

The approved scheme attracted 39 objections and 26 comments in support.

There was also opposition from Bassett ward councillor Richard Blackman, Old Bassett Residents Association and the City of Southampton Society.
Cllr Blackman’s concerns largely related to the “inadequacy of parking provision”.

He said the 10 spaces proposed presented “significant issues for the community, residents, and the wider area.

Members of the planning and rights of way panel supported the recommendation of officers to grant permission, subject to conditions and the completion of the legal agreement, with six votes in favour and one abstention.

Part of the agreement requires work to be carried out to widen and resurface the footway around the site in Winchester Road and Hill Lane to at least three metres.

A further condition stated that the maximum stay at the hotel must be restricted to three months.