Work taking place at Southsea Debenhams as Handleys Corner development takes step forward

Today (Friday) workers were spotted at the defunct Debenhams store in Palmerston Road – which has been empty since it closed for the final time in January 2020 after the brand collapsed into administration. Last year, a lack of progress from the building’s previous owners lead Portsmouth City Council to consider enacting a compulsory purchase order, with the cabinet stating it could “no longer tolerate land banking developers”.

NOW READ: Southsea Debenhams building is sold after former owner threatened with compulsory purchase order

Since then, workers have been active at the site – known as Handleys Corner – and structures behind the street-facing portion of the building have been demolished. Workers were at the scene today as progress appears to be made on the development.

The News understands that work is due to finish in Spring 2025 - with new homes expected to be advertised to let early in the year. As previously reported, Bernards Estate and Letting Agents - who are working with site developers St Cross Homes - prospective tenants for the site’s ground-floor commercial properties are currently being agreed and are expected to include a new doctor’s surgery, shared office space and potentially a gym. The spokesperson added that they are expected to be occupied at “the earliest convenience” and that they do not anticipate have any issues filling them.

The unfinished commercial units inside the large building have been advertised as available to let online via property consultancy firm Vail Williams. A description from the listing reads: “Conversion of the existing former department store building is underway to provide a mixed use scheme with commercial space at ground floor level and residential apartments over the upper floors. The scheme will preserve key architectural assets such as entrances, stairwells and glazing.

"Part of the commercial space at ground floor level is set to be occupied by a GP surgery and pharmacy. The remaining space is capable of occupation as a whole or in part. An indicative scheme showing division into five commercial units has been prepared, incorporating back of house, plant and delivery areas, but there is flexibility depending on occupier requirements. The intention is to provide the commercial units in shell condition, with glazing and entrance doors and separate mains services as required.”

Striking pictures of the site show the building looking unrecognisable and parts have been reduced to rubble. Scaffolding has been erected over the majority of the building’s facade. Planning permission to redevelop the site was agreed in November 2021 and a business case has since also been approved for the relocation of Trafalgar Medical Group Practice to the new ground floor health centre. You can get an idea of what the devopment might look like once complete here.

Watch the footage embedded in the story to see what the site looks like now: