High-rise student block planned for former Labour club in Portsmouth

THIS is the first glimpse of a proposed 10-storey student flats tower block set to replace a political party's former club.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Jul 2017, 10:00 BST
Updated 18th Jul 2017, 08:47 BST
The proposed student block at Unity Hall in Coburg Street, Portsmouth Picture: PDP Architects From: Elliot ViallsThe proposed student block at Unity Hall in Coburg Street, Portsmouth Picture: PDP Architects From: Elliot Vialls
The proposed student block at Unity Hall in Coburg Street, Portsmouth Picture: PDP Architects From: Elliot Vialls

Architects have drawn up the plans for a development at Unity Hall in Coburg Street, Landport, the site of the old Labour Club.

Developer Brownsea Build Ltd hopes to demolish the club, which shut in 2012, to make way for the scheme.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Plans show 133 studio flats are proposed, with no car parking spaces but 60 spaces for bikes.

gci plans Proposed student block portsmouth rep bf Proposed student block development at Unity Hall in Coburg Street, Landport, Portsmouth. caption; Coburg Street. Picture: PDP Architects From: Elliot Vialls gci plans Proposed student block portsmouth rep bf Proposed student block development at Unity Hall in Coburg Street, Landport, Portsmouth. caption; Coburg Street. Picture: PDP Architects From: Elliot Vialls
gci plans Proposed student block portsmouth rep bf Proposed student block development at Unity Hall in Coburg Street, Landport, Portsmouth. caption; Coburg Street. Picture: PDP Architects From: Elliot Vialls

Cladding is set to be used on the two blocks – with architects saying fire safety is a ‘paramount’ consideration.

Labour MP for Portsmouth South Stephen Morgan said: ‘I am concerned by the ever-increasing student accommodation proposed across our city centre. We have a housing crisis in our country and city.

‘Since 2010 housebuilding has fallen to its lowest level since the 1920s and rough sleeping has doubled in the last couple of years. What we desperately need is more social housing for local people.’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Drawings show two blocks, with the tower facing out to Holbrook Road. The other block is four and five storeys high.

gci plans Proposed student block portsmouth rep bf Proposed student block development at Unity Hall in Coburg Street, Landport, Portsmouth. caption; Coburg Street. Picture: PDP Architects From: Elliot Vialls gci plans Proposed student block portsmouth rep bf Proposed student block development at Unity Hall in Coburg Street, Landport, Portsmouth. caption; Coburg Street. Picture: PDP Architects From: Elliot Vialls
gci plans Proposed student block portsmouth rep bf Proposed student block development at Unity Hall in Coburg Street, Landport, Portsmouth. caption; Coburg Street. Picture: PDP Architects From: Elliot Vialls

It comes after Unite Students built a new tower block in Greetham Street and the former Zurich House building has been converted and extended to form new high-rise student accommodation.

A spokesman for Unity Hall developer, Brownsea Build, said: ‘The existing building has been in a sorry state for a number of years and the aim of this development is to enhance the area and provide a landmark building for this prominent site within the city.

‘Expert analysis shows Portsmouth currently only has purpose-built student accommodation for 35-40 per cent of the number of full-time students studying within the city and by building high quality purpose-built student accommodation, this frees up existing housing stock back to the general market for their original use as family homes.’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A PDP Architecture spokesman said: ‘Given this is an outline planning application, the detail and specification of the cladding has yet to be determined, however following the tragic events of Glenfell Tower, maximum consideration of fire safety is paramount.’

The University of Portsmouth is ‘aware’ of the application and will make a representation to the city council.

Related topics:Labour