Fortitudo plans to redevelop building destroyed by fire

Several flats and businesses were destroyed by a fire in Holdenhurst Road, at the junction with Cotlands Road, Lansdowne, in August 2020. 

It took firefighters around 10 hours to extinguish the blaze but a cause has never been determined, despite an investigation. 

But now Poole-based developer Fortitudo is looking to partially demolish the existing fire damaged building and replace it with six storeys of student flats. 

40-44 Holdenhurst Road CGI (Image: Fortitudo/ARC Architect)

Fortitudo initially looked to make the scheme 14 storeys tall, but feedback from BCP Council said it was “too tall and out of context” when sat next to neighbouring buildings – and despite it being opposite the tall building area of Lansdowne in the local plan. 

Eventually, Fortitudo settled on plans for 79 student studios alongside communal space including a bookable kitchen and dining space, study rooms, common room and communal gym. 

The Poole-based firm said in a design and access statement: “Overall, it is considered that the proposal represents an appropriate form of development that is consistent with the urban grain of the area.  

“The development respects the area’s mixed character and delivers a carefully balanced and attractive development which provides much needed student housing through an efficient use of land.” 

Fortitudo has been dipping into the student accommodation market a lot more recently. It won approval in May for new luxurious student flats in Hinton Road, Bournemouth town centre. 

Named Rothesay House, the scheme will be the Poole-based property firm’s first dip in student housing with a target of more than 1,500 units nationwide.  

Inside, the new luxurious accommodation will feature cutting edge technology that Fortitudo hopes will increase efficiency and security for those living in it. 

Construction has already started, with an anticipated completion date in time for students to move in for the 2025 academic year. 

A year after the fire in Holdenhurst Road, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “The fire investigation report concluded that the fire most likely started accidentally in the kitchen of one of the flats, but the exact cause remains unknown due to the scale of damage.” 

A decision on this outline planning application will be made by BCP Council in due course.