Victory for residents as former Portsmouth pub to be turned into homes rather than shop

Portsmouth councillors approved plans to convert the ground floor of the disused Connaught Arms in Guilford Road into two two-bedroom flats, as well as the construction of an attached new two-storey house.

Proposals had previously been submitted to redevelop the site into a shop in 2015 prompting more than 800 petition signatures from residents. Another application for use as a shop last year then garnered 75 signatures and 27 objections from nearby residents.

Although these designs were approved by the planning committee in 2019, the applicant - NM Investments Ltd - has since sought approval for homes.

Speaking to the council's planning committee Fratton representative, Councillor Dave Ashmore, said: 'I would like the thank the applicant for listening to us.

'This has been going on a lot of years. There have been previous campaigns against turning this into retail.

'There's a shop across the road - Penhale News. It's an independent shop, it's a community hub. And there's another shop in Newcome Road.

'In terms of air quality surely having a couple of extra cars here for the homes is better than having delivery lorries turning up and cars coming at all hours to purchase things.

'We need homes. Fratton needs homes more than it needs shops.'

Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson agreed. He said: 'I think it's very good the applicant has listened to the views of local people.

'Local people were very clear they didn't want retail there.'

The homes application had received an objection from the highways engineer due to the fact no parking spaces would be provided. However, on-street spaces within a residents' parking zone are available.

Cllr Luke Stubbs added: 'This is a good application bringing a redundant building back into use and we have to provide housing somewhere.

'When we have got an existing building like this we can't really say they have to provide a large amount of parking.'

As part of the scheme an existing rear extension on the pub will be demolished.

The Connaught Arms closed in 2015.