Plans for 21 student homes in centre of Portsmouth rejected for second time

During Portsmouth City Council's first ever virtual planning committee meeting members considered proposals for a four-storey building in Middle Street, in Somers Town, which included student accommodation and a ground floor commercial unit.

Earlier plans for the development, which would replace an existing two-storey building, were ruled out by the committee in December 2019 due to the failure to 'retain employment uses’, but the resubmitted application included office space on the site's ground floor.

However, Councillor Lee Hunt believed the office space of 73.6m2 was too small. He said: 'It doesn't address my concerns from the last time because I am concerned about how these buildings relate to the ground floor and particularly the loss of employment use of the land. I don't think it's adequate at all.'

Member Cllr Matt Atkins agreed it was small but was in favour of the application. 'They have just by the skin of their teeth made it adequate,' he said.

'They have not used a huge amount of the ground floor for employment space. They may come to find the commercial conditions may not make student housing the best bet but that's for them in the future.'

In a deputation read by a council officer an agent of applicant PV Developments said: 'This first phase application is a resubmission following a refusal by this committee for a single reason, which required provision of employment space within the proposal.

'This has now been integrated in the form of a co-working facility that will benefit local self-employed people and start up businesses while complementing the wider student hub surrounding the site.'

Four councillors voted for a refusal of the scheme, four voted against a refusal and two abstained. Committee chairman Cllr David Fuller used his casting vote to refuse.

PV Developments has also submitted an application to Portsmouth City Council for a neighbouring 11-storey block that will provide 163 residential flats as well as retail space, and it is thought this will be heard by the committee soon.

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