Student Housing Block to Be Demolished Over Fire Safety Concerns

Southampton City Council has formally backed plans to demolish and redevelop the Mercury Point student accommodation on Duke Street following the discovery of major fire safety issues.

The 16-storey building, constructed in 2004 and managed by Unite Students, was found to have significant structural fire safety defects—issues that extend beyond the cladding and into the building's core construction.

During a council meeting on 4 March, it was confirmed that a full demolition is the only viable solution, as retrofitting the building to meet current fire safety standards would be “challenging and cost-prohibitive.”

Key Fire Safety Concerns

According to planning documents, the following major upgrades would have been necessary to bring the building up to standard:

• Installation of a full sprinkler system

• Upgrades to internal fire protection measures

• Complete removal and replacement of flammable cladding materials

Unite Students has concluded that such retrofitting work would be too complex and financially unviable due to the steel-framed structure’s inherent deficiencies. Instead, the organisation is proposing a completely new, safer, and more modern development on the same site.

The New Proposal

Plans for the replacement building include:

• A structure of up to 21 storeys

• Accommodation for 783 students

• Modern amenities and improved layout for student wellbeing

• Sustainable design, with flexibility to convert into standard residential housing in the future

Despite some public concern about the height of the new development, councillors were reassured that the new design meets both sustainability goals and the latest fire regulations.

“A Safer Future for Students”

Councillor Sue Blatchford acknowledged initial hopes of refurbishing the building but accepted that, due to the scale of the fire safety defects, demolition was the most responsible path forward.

“Hopefully now, with all the changes in fire regulations, whatever is built in its place will be much safer for students or residents in the future,” she said.

What’s Next?

The demolition and redevelopment application was approved unanimously by the planning panel. Unite Students, which has invested over £90 million in upgrading its UK-wide property portfolio over the past year, plans to close the Mercury Point site by summer 2025, with construction on the new development expected to begin later this year.

Unite’s Design and Planning Architect, Katy Snodgrass, added:

“The redevelopment of Mercury Point creates an exciting opportunity to regenerate the site and provide a best-in-class student accommodation development.”

The decision, made in agreement with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, underscores the sector's growing commitment to fire safety and student welfare in purpose-built student housing.

A Fire Protection Association Report

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