A FORMER Southampton pub could become a convenience store.

It comes after a previous application to turn The Ship Inn, in Victoria Road, Woolston, into a three one-bedroomed flats were turned down earlier this year.

Southampton City Council planners rejected the proposals after a number of flaws were highlighted within the scheme, including a lack of defensive space around the windows fronting onto Victoria road and Western Grove Road.

Originally developers thought the site would be a good location for flats as they said: "It's conveniently located close to the local centre of Woolston as well as outdoor spaces within the area including various parks and Weston shore.”

However, due to the lack of defensive window space, planning and development manager Samuel Fox said: "This would create poor living conditions for the occupiers as they would have limited privacy from passers-by.”

Developers also said that plans to turn the property into flats would also increase competition for on street car parking and that the plans would mean the loss of a public house which Samuel Fox described as a “valued community facility."

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

Current plans lodged by the council say the new convenience store will be based on the ground floor of the property and that there will be accommodation on the first floor.

No date has been set for a decision by Southampton City Council planning committee.