Southsea Savoy Co-op deal comes under fresh fire

THE decision to award ground-floor space forming part of a new retirement flat complex on Portsmouth's seafront to a retailer has come under fire.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Nov 2016, 06:01 BST
Updated 16th Nov 2016, 16:20 BST
An artists impression of the new McCarthy and Stone retirement housing on South Parade, Southsea, due to open in 2017.An artists impression of the new McCarthy and Stone retirement housing on South Parade, Southsea, due to open in 2017.
An artists impression of the new McCarthy and Stone retirement housing on South Parade, Southsea, due to open in 2017.

The Co-operative is to occupy the bottom of the 66-flat McCarthy & Stone scheme on the site of the former Savoy buildings.

The land was formerly owned by ex-Pompey boss Harry Redknapp before McCarthy & Stone took it over after winning a planning appeal in 2015. The council had initially rejected the plans before a national inspector stepped in.

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Campaigners are unhappy the land, opposite South Parade Pier, is not being put to better use.

Nick Courtney, pier spokesman and leader of the People’s Plan for Southsea campaign group, said: ‘It’s a shame we have sacrificed 80 years of this prime land being the central hub of nightlife and entertainment in this city, for just another supermarket against the wishes of the council’s planning department, which voted unanimously against this development.’

The new store is expected to open next year and will create 15 new jobs.

Related topics:PortsmouthHarry Redknapp