Former Rotary Housing office could be turned into two flats

The application covers Rotary House at 2 Ruskin Road, which has been used as office space by Portsmouth Rotary Housing Association.

The organisation says the building is no longer needed for day-to-day office work, as staff can now work from home or from other housing sites.

If the plans are approved by Portsmouth City Council, the office would be converted and extended to create two one-bedroom flats, both aimed at residents aged 55 and over. Each home would have an open-plan kitchen and living area, a bedroom, a bathroom and built-in storage.

Changes to the building itself are also planned. A ground-floor extension would be added to bring the homes up to modern space standards. The current flat roof would be removed and replaced with a pitched, tiled roof.

Small private gardens would be created, with some of the existing hard surfaces replaced by planting.

The housing association says the scheme would make better use of a brownfield site and help provide much-needed housing. The statement submitted with the application describes the site as “an underutilised asset” and says converting it into homes is a practical way forward.

The plans show two car parking spaces being kept on the hardstanding at the front of the site. Secure cycle parking would also be provided.

Residents can view and comment on the application using the planning reference 25/01470/FUL.