Plans for new homes at former Debenhams store in Southsea amended

The day before Portsmouth's planning committee was due to make a decision on the scheme, the developers - the National Regional Property Group – requested it was postponed to allow for amendments to be considered.

As part of the changes the number of homes on the Palmerston Road site will reduce from 157 to 132.

Other alterations include reducing the scale of the fourth and fifth floors above the store, increasing the distance between the development and the bordering Portland Terrace homes and improving access to the basement parking area.

Shaun Adams, the chief executive of National Regional Property Group, said: 'Following the publication of the officers’ report, we took another look at the scheme and believed that with a few changes, we could improve the plans even further and address the concerns raised by the council.

'However, as the council considered them to be quite significant, it was agreed that they should be reviewed by officers before coming back to the planning committee in January.

'That’s why we requested that the planning committee defer the decision until the January meeting, when we trust they will decide to approve the plans.'

The scheme has had public backing from the developers of the adjacent former Knight & Lee store in Palmerston Road.

Peter Tisdale from That Group said: 'We would be delighted to see an invigorated and active usage of this area of Palmerston Road that we share. If town centres are to be brought back into effective and active use, webelieve a residential scheme will be crucial.'

As previously reported, it was planned the store's existing back building would be demolished to make way for a new block of housing. Under the new plans the replacement block would be reduced in height.

It is still planned a new GP practice, dental surgery and pharmacy will open in the ground floor of the site - with the Trafalgar Medical Group Practice expressing an interest.

Portsmouth City Council's planning committee is set to consider the amended application on January 27.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news online - as well as fewer adverts, access to our digital edition and mobile app.

Our trial offer starts at just £2 a month for the first two months.