Plans have been tabled for a student housing redevelopment at an industrial site in the Southampton suburbs.

Period Projects Limited has submitted proposals to the city council for land at 346, 350 and 352 Burgess Road in Swaythling.

The applicant, who currently runs a carpentry business on part of the site, wants to demolish the existing buildings and replace them with three two-storey student accommodation blocks.

If approved, the scheme would provide a total of 15 studios, with additional common rooms in two of the buildings.

A planning statement submitted as part of the application said: “The principle of development is acceptable and the proposal comprises sustainable development.

“The proposals will remove non-conforming uses on-site and thus provide both a suitable environment for the proposed student residents and for existing neighbouring residents.

“The sizes of the proposed studio flats are entirely consistent with that of other student providers as is the provision of two on-site car parking spaces.”

A previous proposal for six student flats at just 352 Burgess Road was refused by Southampton City Council in 2022.

The applicant of the current scheme has made two pre-application submissions, including for a 21-flat scheme in the form of larger three-storey blocks.

The planning statement said the proposal had been redesigned taking into account the concerns previously raised by planning officers.

“The scheme has been amended so as to minimise harm to neighbouring residential amenities and provide decent living accommodation for the residents of the proposed development,” the statement added.

“As such, the benefits of the scheme clearly outweigh any harm created by the scheme.”

A student need assessment by the applicant said the proposed development was primarily intended to cater for students attending the University of Southampton, with the main campus around one kilometre from the site.

The assessment said more than 11,000 students in the city relied on houses of multiple occupation (HMOs), with a significantly higher proportion of the student population in this type of accommodation compared to the national average.

The applicant said this showed there was a “disproportionate” percentage of students in Southampton with “little alternative” than to live in HMOs and they would benefit from the opportunity of access to purpose-built student accommodation, such as the proposed scheme.

A public consultation on the application, which can be accessed through the council’s online planning portal, is open until January 10.