Portsmouth council to press on with city centre redevelopment starting with 22-storey block
THE city council is pressing forward with plans for a 22-storey housing block in the centre of Portsmouth, claiming private developers have not ‘successfully’ regenerated the area.
During a council meeting today (July 27) leader, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, approved the transfer of land in Arundel Street to its housing development company Ravelin to allow work to progress.
As previously reported the site, which is currently used by Portsmouth Shop Mobility has been earmarked for a tower block of 76 affordable flats – expected to cost around £22m.
But Tory group leader Cllr Donna Jones had concerns about the cost of providing the homes. She said: ‘They were costed at £295,000 a unit which is almost double what a one or two bedroom flat in the area is worth. I do appreciate there’s another value to social housing.
‘I’m concerned about the council taking on debt and paying almost double the price when tenants have the right to buy at 85 per cent in seven, eight or nine years.’
But Cllr Vernon-Jackson said private developers were only building student accommodation in the area. He said: ‘We need to do this if we are serious about trying to regenerate and redevelop the city centre, it’s clear the private sector hasn’t been able to do this successfully.
‘My understanding is we are going out to look for tenders. We hope the cost per unit will fall substantially.’