Former Southsea hotel to be turned into flats

Proposals to transform 17 Merton Road into three two-bedroom flats, one three-bedroom and one-bedroom flat have been unanimously approved by councillors.

Known as the Riven Hall Hotel in the 1970s, the house is currently used by one family, although registered as a shared home and flat.

Under the plans the home’s existing side and rear extensions will be demolished to make way for a new single-storey extension at the back and a new porch.

Speaking at a virtual planning committee meeting today (April 27) Councillor Luke Stubbs said: ‘The house is not well maintained in the pictures. We have got a scheme here that should lead to improvements. Overall, it’s a scheme that’s beneficial to the area.’

The front wall of the property will be re-built and a replacement tree provided for a Sycamore that was previously removed. Merton Road has on-street parking.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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