Plans for a new four-storey student block in Portsmouth facing 'landslide' opposition

A report recommending approval of the redevelopment of the former car park of Wingfield House has been published ahead of the application going before the city council planning committee on Wednesday.

'It is considered that the proposal would represent a positive addition to Staunton Street that would respect the character and context of the built form in the surrounding area,' it says. '[The building] would not materially impact upon the amenities of neighbouring properties, would afford future student occupants with a good standard of living [and] the location is accessible and sustainable location.'

The application submitted by Meadway Management Limited, which was scaled back in a series of revisions earlier this year, proposes a block of student accommodation of 40 rooms along with shared facilities, including a gym.

The land has been unused since Wingfield House was closed in 2015.

The developer's planning agent, Pickup Town Planning, said the building was designed to fit in with its surroundings.

'The currently vacant application site is no longer required as a private car park following the conversion of Wingfield House to form student accommodation,' it said.

'The proposed development has been designed both to respect the scale of existing development on Staunton Street and Lower Wingfield Street and also maintain the residential amenities of the occupiers of adjacent dwellings.'

It said the building would provide a 'much needed' increase in housing

But the application has drawn opposition over its scale with Charles Dickens ward councillor Cal Corkery saying the proposal was 'inappropriate' and would block sunlight from reaching existing homes.

Kingcome House resident Ben Compton said the revisions made to the scheme had not come far enough to address people's concerns.

'This is still an awful decision and surely...everyone's wellbeing comes before a stupid idea to build a huge student block bang in the middle of houses and blocks of flats,' he said. Everyone in the area is against this idea.

He added that people were already facing issues of anti-social behaviour related to existing student blocks.

'It's a landslide "against" from everyone in the area,' he said.