Former Southsea Lloyds bank could be transformed into two shops
The former bank closed last year, leaving Southsea without a physical branch
Plans to split the former Lloyds bank on Palmerston Road into two shops have been handed in to city planners.
A planning application submitted to Portsmouth City Council could, if approved, give the vacant bank a new lease of life.
The application, submitted by Alder King Planning Consultants on behalf of Proudreed Real Estate Limited, seeks permission for shopfront alterations to accommodate “the subdivision of retail units”.
The proposals for the site at 2-4 Palmerston Road would divide the shop floor into two units, with one retaining the existing entrance and the other gaining a new entrance where the cash machines are currently located.
The intended uses of the two shops are currently unknown.
In January last year, Lloyds confirmed it would close the branch later that year due to fewer people using it.
In an announcement at the time, it said: “Most customers are now using our mobile banking app, internet banking or calling us instead, which means they are using branches much less. Because of this, we’ll be closing our Southsea branch.”
The branch was among 61 Lloyds, 61 Halifax and 14 Bank of Scotland branches earmarked for closure as the group looked to focus on digital banking services.
The move followed a string of high-street bank closures in recent years, including NatWest, Halifax and Santander branches in Southsea.
The closure of the Palmerston Road Lloyds branch left Southsea without a physical bank, prompting local councillors to support plans to establish a banking hub.
Residents can view and comment on the application on the council’s website using the planning reference 26/01144/FUL.