Former Ordnance Survey base hotel plan in Southampton looks set for green light

Published by

Sam Pither

The former site of Ordnance Survey in Southampton looks set to add an 82-room hotel after councillors were recommended to give it the green light.

The plans, submitted by BMR Compass Ltd, would see the car park beside Compass House turned into a hotel. Permission was previously granted for a 73-room hotel back in 2021.

As reported by the Daily Echo, a council report says: "The applicants have been in discussions with a hotel operator and now seek to amend the application.

"The amendments comprise a small reduction in the building's footprint and an increase in the number of bedrooms.

"The number of parking spaces has also been increased from 73 to 82 to retain the ratio of one space per hotel bedroom.

"The applicants are seeking changes to the supported scheme so that the building is more suited to the operator's specifications and standard room types.

"A reduction in room sizes is a market decision and is not a reason to refuse planning permission.

"The design of the hotel was previously found to be acceptable by the council. Whilst the dominant character of buildings in the area is two-storey, the surrounding context has no uniform character.

"It is considered that the bulk, scale and mass of the proposed hotel still adequately reflects the three-storey height of buildings to the north and south.

"Furthermore, the hotel would still not exceed the height of Compass House as an increase in height is not proposed. The width of the hotel is also considered acceptable."

Featured image credit: BMR Property Group.

Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset. A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise. Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.