Plans for 26-bed student development in Portsmouth to be decided

A NEW 26-bed student home development with a distinctive ‘witch's hat’ turret could be built in Portsmouth.
How the student homes in Warwick Crescent could look. Picture: PDP Architecture llpHow the student homes in Warwick Crescent could look. Picture: PDP Architecture llp
How the student homes in Warwick Crescent could look. Picture: PDP Architecture llp

Plans for the three-storey build in Warwick Crescent, in Southsea, are set to be decided by city councillors during a planning committee meeting next week.

If approved the development, which will be constructed on the site of the demolished Mystery Pub, will include four five-bedroom apartments and one six-bedroom apartment.

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The former Mystery Pub in Somers Town that was demolished after an arson attack in 2005The former Mystery Pub in Somers Town that was demolished after an arson attack in 2005
The former Mystery Pub in Somers Town that was demolished after an arson attack in 2005
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In a design statement on behalf of the developer, architects PDP Architecture LLP said the build would prevent family homes being used by students.

It said: ‘Whilst many of the student accommodation blocks constructed in Portsmouth in recent years have claimed to make purpose-built accommodation which would free up these family homes, most are for predominantly individual studio flats which tend to be aimed at first year students and those wanting to live independently, or of a scale which does not replicate a more intimate communal living.’

It added this is ‘desired by students who take up the student accommodation in HMOs and converted former family homes, usually in their second and third years’.

It added: ‘At the front of the building, closest to the highway is the feature turret with witch's hat spire to once again provide a local landmark in an area otherwise devoid of such architectural quirks.’

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The development would include storage for 26 bikes but no car parking spaces.

A total of four objections have been raised against the plans.

Emma Rosser, who lives nearby, said: ‘I do believe Portsmouth City Council has already made it clear that we have more than enough student accommodation in the city and what we really need is more accommodation for the local residents.

‘We already have students situated in private accommodation here and the noise and littering caused by them is more than enough.’

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She added: ‘I do not see any proposals for more parking and the majority of students own a vehicle,a s when they break up for the holidays it is much easier to park.’

Permission for eight units in a similar three-storey build on the site was granted in April 2019.

A decision will be made during a virtual planning meeting on Wednesday, August 12.

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