DEVELOPERS are planning to go even further in restoring a dated and abandoned town centre office block. 

Council planning officers are already considering whether to give the green light to refurbish South Western House in Fir Vale Road, Bournemouth. 

Rengen Developments is hoping to repurpose the building into 137 student rooms and, in the place of Cameo nightclub, two shops. 

But now there could be an extra two storeys built on top of the five storey 1960s office block. 

If approved by BCP Council, the extra storeys would comprise 54 self contained student rooms in addition to the proposed 137 flats. 

Bournemouth Echo: Glen Fern House in Fir Vale Road set to be transformed. Photo: Trainee Reporter, Maya George

Each of the additional bedrooms would have a bed, en-suite bathroom, study area, kitchenette and storage. The rooms would be for single occupancy and would range from 12.8sqm to 15.5sqm. 

A statement from architect Kendall Kingscott said: “There is currently a significant under-supply of high quality student accommodation in Bournemouth.  

“Many students live within houses of multiple occupation which in many cases are remote from the relevant institutions and unsuitable with regard to catering for their needs.  

“The use of large houses as student residences places unnecessary pressure on the provision of family housing – bespoke student accommodation will improve this situation considerably.”

Read more: Major plans for new student accommodation above Bournemouth nightclub 

It added: “A separate planning application running concurrently with this one seeks change of use and refurbishment of the building to provide 137 self contained student rooms and separate commercial space.  

“Both proposals for the refurbishment of the existing building and rooftop extension have been designed to work as a whole ensuring sufficient amenity space is provided to serve a total of 191 student rooms.” 

Surveys on the abandoned building of 30 years have revealed it to be suffering from severe mould, stalactites and rust inside. 

Although the developer has said Cameo will cease trading this year, a spokeswoman for the nightclub said there will always be a Cameo presence in Bournemouth no matter what happens. 

Nothing is set in concrete yet. 

Outside of South Western House, developers said the decaying, grey, weather battered exterior will have a spruce up including a repaint on the ground floor and above, new windows and the concrete frame will be repaired and repainted. 

A decision on the application has not yet been made by BCP Council.