Five flats proposed above Cosham Junk Emporium
The plans follow on from previous refusals on the site
Plans have been submitted to turn the upper floor of the Junk Emporium on Cosham High Street into five flats.
The application, lodged with Portsmouth City Council, seeks prior approval to convert the first floor of 48A High Street, Cosham, into five one-bedroom flats while retaining the ground-floor shop use.
A prior approval application allows some building changes under permitted development rights, with the council only checking specific issues such as flooding, transport, noise, design, and natural light.
The proposal would involve the “reconfiguration of the internal layout of the first floor to create five residential units” on the site of the former Boots pharmacy.
The latest scheme follows the refusal of an earlier application due to the size of one bedroom and concerns over natural light reaching another flat.
The applicant stated the revised proposal addressed the council’s previous concerns, specifically the two points of contention, and should now be granted prior approval.
Planning papers state this has been addressed by converting the previously refused two-bedroom flat into a one-bedroom apartment.
The development would comprise three one-bedroom flats and two studio apartments, with three of the homes having access to a private balcony.
Documents submitted with the application also state that earlier officer assessments found the proposal acceptable in terms of transport and parking impacts.
No cycle storage is proposed as part of the scheme. The applicant argues the town centre location, nearby bus stops and Cosham railway station reduce the need for on-site provision.
The planning statement says: “The site’s High Street setting provides ample access to the e-scooter and e-bike hire schemes, in addition to strong public transport links via adjacent bus stops and Cosham train station, negating the need for on-site cycle provisions.”
In September last year, it was reported that the former Boots pharmacy, which closed in 2023, would be replaced by the Junk Emporium.
The Junk Emporium rehomes and recycles goods otherwise destined for landfill, selling everything from teaspoons to furniture.