UK: Stelling Properties has started construction works on a £20 million student accommodation project in Southampton city centre, which will replace 1960s commercial buildings.
Located at 119 High Street in the city’s Old Town Quarter, the new development will be delivered using modular construction across three interconnected blocks, ranging from three to six storeys in height.
The project aims to enhance the local streetscape while preserving the character of the conservation area and its surrounding listed buildings.
The site, which made headlines three years ago when police uncovered nearly £4 million worth of cannabis plants inside, is now being transformed by Winchester-based developer Stelling Properties.
The company received planning approval in May 2024 and is now moving forward with demolition and preparatory work, including archaeological excavations.
The new student complex will be operated by student accommodation provider Unilife and will offer a mix of one- and two-bed studios, as well as apartment clusters with shared kitchens.
Designed to cater to Southampton’s growing student population, the development will provide high-specification private living spaces alongside an extensive range of communal amenities.
Facilities will include a gym, study areas, lounge spaces, a gourmet dining room, a karaoke room, a games room, individual meeting rooms, and a co-working hub with a coffee station.
The building’s exterior has been thoughtfully designed with light stone-effect cladding and red brickwork to blend seamlessly with its historic surroundings.
José Ignacio Alvarez, founder and executive chair of Stelling Properties, said: “This is a major milestone for Stelling Properties. It will be our largest modular student development to date and our most sustainable, targeting a near-net-zero footprint and a BREEAM Excellent rating. By using advanced offsite manufacturing, we can fully fit out and furnish each studio in our Hampshire factory, significantly reducing construction time and on-site disruption.”
Richard Powell, COO of Unilife, added: “The concept for 119 High Street has been developed in collaboration with our student community, ensuring we meet their evolving expectations for privacy, comfort, and social spaces.”
The new accommodation follows Stelling’s award-winning Bargate House, another regeneration project on the High Street, also operated by Unilife.
The development is scheduled for completion in time to welcome its first students in September 2026.
