New 16-home development could be built in Portsmouth despite parking concerns

Councillors are set to make a decision on plans for 16 affordable homes, including seven houses and nine flats, on the corner of Doyle Avenue and Northern Parade in Hilsea next week.

If approved, the development will be built on the site of a former health clinic that was demolished in 2013 and will feature cycle storage and parking spaces for 12 cars.

But local residents have voiced their concerns. A total of 22 objections have been submitted against the plans.

Tania Gunter, who lives in nearby Westwood Road, said: 'The development is out of character with the other properties in the area.

'Insufficient parking for 16 dwellings, 28 have been recommended - causing (issues with) highway safety, driving around looking for spaces leading to pollution and air quality issues.

'Doyle Avenue is a busy congested road especially during peak hours, the additional concentration of traffic and roadside parking will cause traffic problems and create a safety hazard for motorists and schoolchildren crossing.'

Doyle Avenue resident, Chris Hargrave, added: 'Already overstretched parking in Doyle Avenue is causing obstructions to Conan Road and Westwood Road at peak times.

'Residents' driveways are regularly being obstructed which is causing key workers on call to be inconvenienced and delayed in responding to call outs given the current working from home advice from the government during the Covid-19 pandemic, which isn’t likely to end before a vaccine is found.'

In a report the Portsmouth highways engineer said there was 'significant shortfall' in the amount of parking proposed.

But the city council's housing boss, Councillor Darren Sanders said: 'Parking is a problem across the whole city. It's regularly raised when there are plans across the city.

'This is a site that's been long empty, I think we owe it to the people not to let it carry on being empty.

'I am delighted the council wants to do something about it to provide more homes Portsmouth people can afford. We've got far too many people on the waiting list and far too many people need a home.'

As previously reported council officers estimated the development could cost around £4.2m.

A decision will be made during a virtual meeting on Wednesday, August 9.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.