Southsea Debenhams site set for 157 homes - but none may be affordable housing

It comes as a viability study on the 157-apartment project in Palmerston Road, Southsea, found having 30 per cent of the properties as cheaper homes would yield a £6m profit.

Selling all the homes at market rate would net National Regional Property Group an estimated £7.7m profit – making the project viable.

This option is ‘the only way of bringing the scheme forward,’ the assessment concluded.

But the developer has insisted all options are being looked for the project, valued at between £34-38m, and could still include affordable homes.

Between April 2017 and March this year, just 159 affordable homes have been built in Portsmouth, according to Homes England data.

Housing activist and Labour councillor Cal Corkery told The News: ‘There is a real housing crisis in Portsmouth and with eviction proceedings starting again in the courts next month it is only going to get worse.

‘The council must do all it can to increase the supply of new affordable homes and that means holding property developers to account by not allowing them to sidestep their planning obligations.

‘Developers make significant profits from the housing crisis and it's about time they started sharing their spoils with communities by adhering to affordable housing requirements.’

Objections have been filed by people fearful no affordable housing will be included at the Handleys Corner site.

When finished there will be retail space.

Liesl Rose, of Twyford Avenue, Stamshaw said: ‘There is a critical lack of social housing in our city.

‘The developer should not be allowed to sidestep their responsibility here.’

Dave Playle, of Tyseley Road, Southsea, said there is a ‘serious need’ for affordable homes.

In an objection to the plans he added: ‘It is no longer viable to keep allowing developers to ignore this need.’

The developer also wants to demolish an ‘infilled extension’ to the Grade-II listed building Portland Terrace. This will allow the construction of the new build with 48 homes, with 109 in the existing Debenhams store.

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Shaun Adams, chief executive at National Regional Property Group, behind the proposals, told The News: ‘I'm not afraid of affordable housing.

‘I'm very happy to deliver affordable housing where the viability allows it and in some cases where it doesn't.’

Mr Adams said he has developed thousands of affordable homes in the region over the years, and wants to help families.

He said: ‘We’re considering all the options at the moment of residential tenure and that does include affordable housing.’

In Fareham, 146 affordable homes have been built from April 2017 to March this year, with 165 in Havant and 142 in Gosport.

Access the plans at publicaccess.portsmouth.gov.uk by searching 20/00621/LBC for the demolition bid and 20/00620/FUL for the full proposal.

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