STUDENTS living in a plush Southampton apartment block will be getting a whole host of new social spaces after developers opted to get rid of its retail units.

Crescent Place, in St Mary’s Road, Bevois, is set to get new facilities at its premises comprising of a study hall, a cinema, a cafe space, a seminar room, a gym and a management suite.

The Student Housing Company and GSA, owners of the premises, opted to fill the retail units, which had initially been built along with the property in 2015, with the facilities.

It said that since completion only one retail space had been successfully filled and used, despite the building offering 288sqm of retail floorspace.

Crscent Place comprises of 467 student bedroom and on its website it boasts being “a two-minute stroll from Southampton Solent University, and a short bus ride away from the University of Southampton.”

The application has been approved by Southampton City Council.

In it a statement from the owners said: “At present all but one retail unit on St Mary’s Road has been unoccupied since the development was completed and The Student Housing Company would like to extend their student amenities, such as a gym, social lounge, study café and seminar room into these spaces.”

It added: “This prospective adaptation will offer activities that inhabit the street front thus satisfying the need for active uses.

“A portion of this is already used as a management suite which is the main interface between staff and students.

“By enhancing the entrance from the street, it is hoped that the area is not simply an access point but a bustling reception and meeting area, leading into the existing development.”