Revised planning application for east wing of Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea is submitted to Portsmouth City Council

Members of the Portsmouth City Council planning committee refused permission for the controversial development last month because eight of the 29 flats fell below living space standards.

A planning statement submitted with the new application by PWP Architects said the issue has been 'addressed' and should now be approved.

It said flat-sizes had been increased where possible, and as a result three fewer flats were proposed.

During the pandemic, work to convert the wing into 40 flats, based on planning permission granted in 2010, was started but stopped after it was deemed to be unfeasible due to post-Grenfell building regulation changes to staircases and the discovery of structural internal walls.

The scaled-back version had been recommended for approval by council planning officers, despite the size issues and dozens of letters of objections submitted by people living nearby.