Ministry of Defence approval stalls Eastney luxury hotel project over agreement

Plans to redevelop Portsmouth’s former Royal Marines Museum into a luxury hotel are being delayed – because they need approval from the Secretary of State for Defence.

Plans to convert the former Royal Marine Barracks on Eastney Esplanade into a luxury hotel were approved by Portsmouth City Council’s planning committee in May last year.

The planning permission was subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement, under which developers agree to contribute towards infrastructure or community improvements.

However, more than a year later, the council has yet to publish a decision notice, which formally grants planning permission.

A council spokesperson said: “The delay is due to the Section 106 agreement still being completed, as approval is required from the Secretary of State for Defence and this has taken longer than anticipated.

“There is no indication that the applicant does not intend to proceed with the development. The outstanding approval is the only matter holding up completion of the agreement and the issuing of the decision notice.”

The council confirmed the site is on land owned by the Ministry of Defence and therefore requires agreement from the Secretary of State for Defence.

If all goes to plan, the hotel will be operated by Grand Hotel Excelsior International Limited.

The building’s exterior would remain untouched, while internal alterations would create hotel rooms, a function hall, dining areas and lounges.

Other buildings on the site would be converted into a gym, treatment rooms and a swimming pool.

The museum building is around 150 years old, but the former museum at Eastney Barracks closed in 2017 following its “irreversible deterioration”.

The development includes 118 car parking spaces, 10 of them with EV charging points, and nine spaces for motorcycles, with additional parking located near the building’s western entrance.

The site was sold to the hotel company in 2020 for £4.5m, when it was announced that the Yomper, the statue of a Royal Marine commemorating the Falklands War, would remain in place.

At the time of its approval, planning committee member Councillor Lee Hunt said that Portsmouth wants to be a “European weekend destination break – we need the hotels to support that view”.