A FORMER pub will not become flats after officials deemed the proposals would offer tenants “poor living conditions”.

The former Ship Inn, a once popular public house in Victoria Road, Woolston, had been earmarked by developers for conversion into three one-bedroom flats with associated cycle and refuse storage.

Architects Concept Design & Planning, who submitted the application to Southampton City Council on behalf of an unnamed developer, claimed the change of use was appropriate as the site was “conveniently located close o the local centre of Woolston” and “outdoor spaces within the area including various parks and Weston shore.”

Concept added: “The use class change is considered suitable given this is typical of the area and will have less impact on surrounding neighbours / amenity.”

However, after assessing the application, lodged in October, Southampton City Council highlighted a number of flaws with the proposals.

Planning and Development Manager, Samuel Fox wrote: “The main living spaces of flats two and three will have no defensive space around the windows fronting onto Victoria Road and Western Grove Road.

“As a result this would create poor living conditions for the occupiers as they would have limited privacy from passers-by.”

He added: “The proposal would result in the loss of the public house which is defined as a valued community facility.

“Based on the information submitted, it has not been adequately demonstrated that the parking demand of the development would not harm the amenity of nearby residential occupiers through increased competition for on-street car parking.”

The pub went through a number of rebrands after being up for sale by Punch Taverns in 2012 and closed for good in late 2016.