Student Flats Face Criticism

Plans to build more student accommodation in Portsmouth have come under fire due to low demand for more university accommodation.

Residential & Commercial Estates Ltd have proposed developing Wingfield House in Commercial Road into student flats with 440 bedrooms.

The applicant had previously put forward plans to turn the ex-tax office into student accommodation with 295 rooms, which was granted planning permission by Portsmouth City Council. However, the decision to increase the development comes after the university announced it will close its student flats at the Langstone Campus containing 600 beds due to an oversupply of student accommodation.

Leader of the council, Donna Jones, objected to the original plans and commented: "We have already reached the demand and the number of student rooms required, we actually reached this last summer. It is also entirely the wrong location for student accommodation."

"The other main concern is that it is right on the edge of the City Centre North development which will be the most significant regeneration project in the city for 50 years."

"We are disappointed that this application is for student housing when there is already enough and in fact the university is selling off some accommodation as it is not needed. It would be better used for affordable housing."