Former Southampton city centre Citizens Advice building to become serviced apartments
Southampton City Council officers granted planning permission to convert the two-storey building at 3 Kings Park Road from offices into five one-bedroom apart-hotel units for short-stay guests.
Last updated 12th Oct 2026
Plans to redevelop a former council-owned Citizens Advice building in Southampton city centre into five serviced apartments have been approved.
Southampton City Council officers granted planning permission to convert the two-storey building at 3 Kings Park Road from offices into five one-bedroom apart-hotel units for short-stay guests.
The proposal from Richard Fowler will create three apartments on the ground floor and two on the first floor, with each apartment containing a bedroom, bathroom and open-plan living area.
The scheme comes after the council sold the site for £175,500 in the last financial year, despite it having a net book value of £356,000.
A design and access statement submitted with the planning application said the applicant already operates a similar apart-hotel scheme at nearby 1 Kings Park Road through Kings Park Developments.
Companies House records show Mr Fowler and Sandra Boberg are directors of the company.
An operational statement said: “Kings Park Developments currently operates a successful serviced apartment business from its existing property at Kings Park Road.
“The apartments are marketed under our Vittrum Serviced Apartments brand and provide professionally managed short-term accommodation for business travellers, contractors and professionals working in the area and visitors requiring flexible accommodation for periods longer than a traditional hotel stay.
“The proposed development at 3 Kings Park Road is intended to operate as a direct extension of the existing business rather than as a separate enterprise.
“The two buildings are located immediately adjacent to one another, separated only by the car park, allowing them to function as a single ‘managed serviced accommodation’ operation.”
No objections were received during the consultation process.
Planning officers said the development would not harm the character of the area, neighbouring residents or the local highway network.
The approval is subject to a number of conditions.
Guests will not be allowed to stay for more than three months, while the apartments must remain part of a managed serviced accommodation operation rather than being used as permanent homes.
The building was originally approved in 1980 for use by the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Marriage Guidance Council, according to council planning records.
Citizens Advice Southampton vacated the building at the end of 2020 and now operates from Brunswick Place.