£11m plans for student flats at Cumberland Place in Southampton to be considered by city council

Developers want to build the tower block on the edge of Watts Park, but some residents have criticised it as being "too high".

Orchard Homes wants to demolish the building containing its own offices and replace it with a 12-storey block containing flats for almost 200 students.

A gym, reception and common room would be provided at the 37-metre high building along with a cinema and study areas.

As well as construction jobs ten new roles will be created including a management team, cleaners and overnight staff.

But there are plans for only four car parking spaces, and one cycle space for every two bedrooms at the back of the building along with a bin shed.

Orchard Homes will go before city council planning chiefs at the Civic Centre on June 7.

An artist's impression of what the flats would look like

Officers have recommended approving the plans, but they have been met with opposition from some residents who say that it would be “to the detriment” of the area.

Lorraine Barter said: “Seeing that the area Polygon is a student ghetto, adding this extra number of students would head towards a further unbalanced community.

“I find that having no amenity space for the students is unacceptable, the lack of space for play and leisure would drive them further to outside entertainment, the many bars in the vicinity.

“Polygon is already notorious for night time crime and drunken behaviour (the latter by students) and this has driven out many long term residents.”

Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society (SCAPPS) have also objected but the city council’s heritage department said the site “lends itself to the location of a tall building”.

Mark Sennitt, from Orchard Homes, has previously said: "The application has been submitted in response to a clear and ongoing need for purpose-built student accommodation that can serve both Southampton University (SU) and Southampton Solent University (SSU).

"The location is perfect in that, not only, is it within walking distance of SSU and on convenient bus routes to the SU Highfield Campus, but it is at the heart of the city centre in close proximity to the amenities that it offers and Southampton Central Station."

If the plans are approved it will become just the latest in a series of major student flat developments that are being built or have been agreed in the city.

Planning consent was recently granted for accommodation for 507 students at the nearby Bond site, with the building also rising to 12 storeys in height.

Further east, construction is continuing on a £28m, 467 student flat complex in St Mary's Road.

Orchard Homes is also building a 349-flat hall of residence in Portswood.