Southampton is about to witness an exciting transformation that could address the city’s pressing student accommodation crisis. A former office block on Commercial Road is set to be demolished and replaced with hundreds of purpose-built student flats, potentially reshaping the city centre whilst meeting the soaring demand for university housing.
Breathing New Life into Commercial Road
The empty building at 69-81 Commercial Road has stood vacant since wealth management firm Quilter moved out. Now, Moda Living wants to give it a complete makeover. Their ambitious proposal involves knocking down the existing office block and building two striking residential towers in its place.
The planned development consists of two blocks ranging from six to 18 storeys, which would provide 707 student bed spaces across 238 studios and 63 cluster flats. It’s a bold response to Southampton’s growing student population and the universities’ struggle to house everyone properly.
More Than Just Student Digs
This isn’t your typical student accommodation. Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) offers something rather different from the cramped bedsits and shared houses that many students have come to expect. These developments typically provide better facilities, proper communal spaces and decent security—creating an environment where students can actually focus on their studies rather than worrying about leaky taps or dodgy landlords.
The studios will give students their own space and independence, whilst the cluster flats cater to those who prefer sharing common areas with flatmates. What’s particularly refreshing is the car-free design, which aligns with Southampton’s push towards reducing traffic congestion. Instead, there’ll be five accessible parking bays and secure storage for 354 bikes, encouraging students to cycle rather than drive.
A Much-Needed Solution
Anyone familiar with Southampton knows that student housing has become a real headache. The city’s universities are attracting more students than ever, but decent, affordable accommodation hasn’t kept pace. Many students have been forced into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), which often means overcrowded conditions and increased pressure on local services.
This Commercial Road development could provide some much-needed relief. By offering purpose-built accommodation designed specifically for students, it should reduce the demand for HMOs in residential areas. This, in turn, could free up family homes for local residents who are struggling to find somewhere affordable to live.
The Bigger Picture: Housing Crisis
The housing shortage isn’t just a Southampton problem—it’s plaguing the entire country. Property prices have skyrocketed, and there simply aren’t enough homes to go around. In university cities like Southampton, this crisis hits particularly hard, with students and families competing for the same limited housing stock.
The rise in HMOs has been a symptom of this broader problem. Whilst they provide a temporary solution for student housing, they often create their own issues: overcrowding, strain on local infrastructure, and sometimes poor living conditions. The Commercial Road development offers a chance to tackle both the student accommodation shortage and the wider housing crisis simultaneously.
Not Everyone’s Convinced
Despite support from universities and student housing advocates, the proposal has faced some opposition. During public consultation, nine objections were raised, highlighting genuine concerns about the project’s impact on the local area.
The main worry is overdevelopment. Southampton already has quite a few student developments, and some residents fear that adding hundreds more bed spaces could overwhelm local services—transport, schools and healthcare. There’s also concern about knocking down a building that’s only been around for 25 years.
Local groups, including the City of Southampton Society and the Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society, have voiced opposition, questioning whether this is the right location for such a large student housing scheme. The nearby Polygon School has raised concerns about privacy, drainage, and the disruption that construction would bring.
However, the planning officer’s report suggests many of these issues have been addressed. Moda Living has been in talks with the school, and it appears the main concerns about construction and boundary treatment have been resolved. The development also includes environmental features like bike storage and reduced car dependency, which fits with Southampton’s sustainability goals.
What This Means for Southampton
If approved, this redevelopment will mark a significant step forward in tackling the city’s student accommodation shortage. The project promises to provide modern, high-quality living spaces for hundreds of students whilst revitalising a previously underused part of the city centre. It’ll also create jobs during construction, giving the local economy a boost.
This could set a precedent for future student housing developments, not just in Southampton but across the country. With growing emphasis on sustainability and the increasing demand for purpose-built accommodation, the Commercial Road scheme might inspire other developers to think more carefully about how they can contribute to solving the housing crisis whilst promoting environmentally friendly practices.
What Happens Next
The Commercial Road redevelopment proposal is expected to go before Southampton City Council’s planning panel on Tuesday, 22nd July 2025. If councillors give it the green light, construction could begin within months, with the new student flats ready for occupancy within a few years.
Whilst there are still some hurdles to overcome—including addressing remaining concerns from the public consultation—the development represents a major investment in the city’s future. With backing from local universities and a design that prioritises sustainability and student wellbeing, this project has the potential to become a model for future student housing developments across Southampton and beyond.
Looking Forward
The transformation of Commercial Road into student accommodation represents more than just another development—it’s a thoughtful response to a genuine problem. Whilst concerns about local impact are valid and deserve consideration, the project offers an important step towards meeting the growing demand for student housing in the city.
With its focus on sustainability, accessibility, and modern living standards, this redevelopment could significantly improve Southampton’s student accommodation landscape for years to come. More importantly, it demonstrates how smart, sustainable development can help ease pressure on housing markets and provide practical solutions for communities grappling with similar challenges.
For a city that’s home to two major universities, ensuring students have proper places to live isn’t just about comfort—it’s about maintaining Southampton’s reputation as a place where students want to study and where the local community can thrive alongside them.