Gosport Poundstretcher store set to be replaced by homes

A two-storey building in Gosport High Street is set to make way for a taller structure that will help to ease the area's housing shortage.

The applicant, Barnaby Hunter, has received consent to breathe new life into the site.

A borough council report outlining its assessment of his proposal said: "Permission is sought for the construction of a four-storey building following the demolition of the existing.

"New dwellings above commercial floorspace within a sustainable location, and with an increase in building height, would be entirely consistent with the aims and objectives of local and national planning policies."

Plans to replace a Poundstretcher store with a new building containing18 flats have been approved (Image: WDA)

The report said the scheme would retain a retail area on the ground floor while providing 18 flats in the upper storeys.

It acknowledged that the proposal would reduce the amount of commercial floorspace in the town centre but said the benefits of the project would outweigh the concerns.

READ MORE: Bid to turn former Burtons menswear shop in Gosport into a McDonald's

"While taller and bulkier [than the existing building], it is considered to be a high quality design, enhanced by a number of interesting design features that would contribute positively to the area.

"It is considered that the development would preserve the character and appearance of the High Street Conservation Area."

The application prompted two letters of support and two of objection.

Plans to replace a Poundstretcher store with a new building containing18 flats have been approved (Image: WDA)

A design and access statement that accompanied the proposal said the new building would deliver much-needed homes.

It added: "The proposal has been designed sensitively to avoid any negative impact on neighbours. The proposed height of the building's frontage is in line with other units along the high street.

"It is concluded that the development would not introduce demonstrable harm to the amenity of any neighbouring properties."

Several other applications to transform sites in Gosport town centre have been submitted in recent months.

Other applications submitted to the council include a proposal to turn part of a bank into flats (Image: Newsquest)

As reported in the Daily Echo, the council has approved plans to transform a former Burtons menswear shop into a 48-seat McDonald's restaurant that is due to open later this year.

READ MORE: Flats plan for former Lloyds bank in Gosport High Street

Proposals to convert a disused Dorothy Perkins store into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) have also been given the go-ahead.

Civic chiefs are currently studying an application to turn part of the Lloyds bank building into flats.

Plans to convert a former branch of Barclays into eight homes have already been given the go-ahead.