Coffee kiosk proposed for Southsea’s former Knight & Lee store
The proposed kiosk would operate for 12 months while redevelopment plans are considered
A coffee kiosk is being proposed for Southsea’s former Knight and Lee store, seven years after the vacant store closed its doors.
A planning application has been submitted to Portsmouth City Council for a coffee kiosk inside part of the former Knight and Lee building department store on Palmerston Road.
The proposed kiosk would be located in the service yard area, on the corner of Palmerston Road and Stanley Street.
Planning documents state: “The kiosk comprises a modified shipping container, which will be positioned internally within the building, behind the existing entrance shutter door.
“The proposal is therefore limited to the installation and use of the temporary kiosk within the existing building, with no permanent alterations to the external appearance of the listed building proposed.
“The kiosk is accessed from the existing service yard on Stanley Street. There will be associated customer seating positioned in front of the entrance shutter doors in the outside entrance service yard.
“In addition, temporary ancillary structures providing toilet and storage facilities are proposed, also inside the existing building.”
The documents add: “A temporary period of 12 months is sought while further consideration is given to the redevelopment of the building”.
The plans were submitted by Tetlow King Planning on behalf of Mr Raheel Mahmood.
The former Knight and Lee John Lewis branch has been the subject of speculation and disappointment since it closed in 2019.
Developers THATgroup secured planning permission in 2022 to convert the building into a hotel, cinema, offices, gym, shops, food and drink venues, and a rooftop bar.
However, in March this year, it was confirmed that the developers were stepping away from the project, leaving the building’s future uncertain.
The store was one of only two John Lewis shops in the UK to retain its original name. It was also the first store the retailer had closed since 2006.
At 35,000 sq ft, it was the smallest full-range department store in the chain and proved difficult to modernise.
Originally opened in Southsea in 1865, it was taken over by the John Lewis Partnership in 1933 and closed on 13 July 2019 after more than 150 years of trading.
Residents can view and comment on the councils website using the reference 26/00998/LBC.