Gosport Dorothy Perkins shop set to become 12-room HMO

An application to convert the disused Dorothy Perkins shop in Gosport High Street into a ten-bedroom property was granted by the borough council in September 2024.

Now, the authority has approved proposals to deliver a 12-bedroom HMO by creating two units in the roofspace.

It comes as fast food giant McDonald's prepares turn the former Burton menswear shop next door into a 48-seat restaurant and takeaway.

Plans to convert the building into flats were given the green light in 2023, subject to the completion of a legal agreement, but were later withdrawn by the applicant, Regen Gosport.

Plans to turn the former Burton menswear store into a 48-seat restaurant and takeaway have also been given the go-ahead (Image: Newsquest)

But Regen pulled out after the McDonald's scheme - expected to create up to 120 jobs - was given the go-ahead last summer.

Now, Regen's latest application to transform the old Dorothy Perkins store has also received consent.

READ MORE: Plan to turn former Burton store into 48-seater McDonald's

A design and heritage statement that accompanied the application said: "Proposed alterations to the building have been modestly and sympathetically integrated into its overall composition.

"The building is currently vacant and in need of resurrection given its prominence on the high street."

A proposal to turn the former Dorothy Perkins store in Gosport into a 12-room HMO has been approved by the borough council (Image: Newsquest)

The statement said the conversion would provide much-needed accommodation on a highly sustainable site while retaining a large retail/commercial unit on the ground floor.

It added: "The building is in poor repair and in need of renovation.

"This is an opportunity for the local authority to promote good quality design which is sympathetic and enhancing to the local conservation area as opposed to letting the building remain vacant and fall into a derelict state.

"Overall, the proposal will preserve the special interest and significance of the identified heritage assets."

READ MORE: Bid to turn former Dorothy Perkins store into 12-room HMO

A council report giving its assessment of the scheme said: "The proposals are largely the same at first floor, with ten bedrooms and a communal area for the HMO, albeit in a slightly amended layout, with all rooms having an en-suite.

"The main change is the provision of accommodation within the roofspace."

The report said the scheme included a shared lounge, kitchen, and dining area. Rooms not facing High Street or Coates Road would boast rooflights and small courtyards. Most of the ground floor would continue to be retail space.

"The amended proposal would not have a harmful impact on the vitality and viability of the town centre and its function."

The store closed in 2019 after being hit by rising online sales. The building was once Gosport's main post office.