St John’s College redevelopment scaled back with new housing mix
Updated plans would replace flats with townhouses at former college site
Developers Southsea Village Ltd have lodged revised plans for the former St John’s College site, reducing the number of flats in favour more townhouses.
The site, formerly occupied by St John’s College, closed in July 2022 after operating as a boarding school. A major redevelopment was then approved in June 2024, which set out a large apartment-led scheme across the former college buildings and new build elements.
The earlier application permitted the conversion and extension of former college buildings into 110 apartments, and the demolition of other college buildings to erect new ones creating 102 apartments.
Parts of that permission have already been implemented on site, with some conversion works underway. However, the applicant now says the scheme has been reassessed to better reflect housing need in the area.
The Planning Statement explains “the applicant has reviewed the proposals and believes a better mix of accommodation is needed to include a number of townhouses providing more variety and family homes catering for a distinct need in the local area.”
If approved, the development would shift away from an apartment-heavy model. The overall number of homes would fall from 212 apartments to a mixed scheme of 114 apartments and 35 family homes, a total of 149 dwellings, alongside retention of the children’s day nursery in the Maurice Wing.
The applicant says: “In reducing the proposed number of apartments, the opportunity has also arisen to reduce the resulting massing and height of the development having a consequential reduction upon the character and appearance of the conservation area. The retention of the Children’s Day Nursery is also a positive change to the earlier consent.
“Overall, this will provide a more varied mix of homes whilst promoting a more inclusive community.”
A key justification for the redesign is reduced scale, with lower heights and less massing expected to soften impacts on the surrounding conservation area.
Residents can view and comment on the application in the councils planning portal using the reference 26/00596/FUL.