A university wants more flexibility over who can stay in its hall of residences - including non-students over summer.

Southampton Solent University has submitted applications to the city council for several sites.

The proposals are seeking permission to remove conditions in existing planning consents which date back to the 1990s.

The educational institution says the proposed alterations would bring the use of the accommodation in line with more recent purpose-built student accommodation in the city.

Southampton City Council’s planning portal currently lists applications in relation to Deanery and Chantry Hall in Marsh Lane, and Kimber Hall and David Moxon Annexe in St Mary’s Place.

Planning statements submitted on behalf of Solent University by Vail Williams LLP said the aim is to remove restrictions on who can operate and own the buildings, and allow the accommodation to be open for non-student use during periods of low student demand and outside of core academic term dates.

A further goal is to ensure the planning consent provides a “flexible definition” of what constituents a student as people now enter higher education and early careers in a variety of ways, such as apprenticeship schemes and sandwich courses, the statement said.

Vail Williams provided three case studies of purpose-built student accommodation schemes in Southampton, which all received planning approval from the city council in the past 12 months.

Referencing legal agreements in each of the case studies, the planning statement said: “The agreements do not restrict the occupation to any particular party and provides a flexible definition of what constitutes a student.

“Furthermore the agreements allow for occupancy between academic years to take place by occupiers not limited to students.”

The applications to remove the conditions at the four halls of residence are currently being considered by council planners, with respective public consultation for each site closing around December 11.

A spokesperson for Southampton Solent University said: “As a modern university, this amendment to existing planning consents will allow us to ensure that our accommodation offering meets the needs of all our students.

“This includes those studying with us for short periods of time, traditional students and individuals that are pursuing professional development opportunities.

“Like any university, we are committed to managing our finances extremely carefully, this includes regularly reviewing the management and ownership of all of our assets, including residences.”