A TOWERING block of student flats in Southampton nicknamed the “fag butt” by residents has been shortlisted as one of the country’s worst new buildings.

The City Gateway, which has stood empty for a year after it was not completed on time, has been named as a candidate for Building Design’s Carbuncle Cup.

The architects’ newspaper will announce the winner of its annual competition later this year and the controversial building, called an “eyesore” by some residents, is in with a chance of winning the unwanted trophy.

The £23.5m, 15-storey tower was built by Bouygues and sits at one of the busiest entrances to Southampton, at the junctions of Thomas Lewis Way and Stoneham Way.

Daily Echo:

It had been set to welcome its first intake of University of Southampton students last year, but instead it has stood empty after the builders missed the deadline to hand it over to the university so it could be fitted out.

It is now among the shortlist for the Carbuncle Cup, inspired by Prince Charles’ description of some modern architecture as being “like a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend”.

Last year’s winner was the Woolwich Central flats and shops development in the heart of Woolwich town centre, which was described by the judges as “oppressive, defensive, arrogant and inept”.

Editor Thomas Lane said: “Unfortunately too many new buildings blight on our towns and cities rather than doing what they should which is improving the built environment for all.

“These buildings suffer from a number of failings including blank, faceless façades, cheap shouty cladding, bad proportions and ill-conceived design ‘features’.

“Frequently examples of gross overdevelopment, rather than mitigating their impact too many of these buildings stick two fingers up to their context. Some buildings are unforgivably bad and deserve to be named and shamed which is where the Carbuncle Cup comes in.”

The winner of the Carbuncle Cup will be decided by a panel of experts.

Now, the City Gateway building is finally ready to welcome its first intake of students, a year later than intended it was supposed to.

A spokesman for the University of Southampton said: “We have taken occupation of City Gateway and are currently preparing the building for the first intake in September. There are over 350 bedrooms available. The main intake weekend is September 19 and 20 but we anticipating phasing arrivals with some pre-sessional and international students arriving on or around September 8 with the remainder on the main intake weekend.”

Members of the public can nominate their own buildings completed in the last year by sending pictures and a short description to Thomas.lane@ubm.com