Five-storey student flats and shop proposed for Middle Street site
A vacant site in Portsmouth city centre could soon be home to a new five-storey student block.
PV Developments Limited have submitted plans to build 28 student flats above a ground floor shop or business unit at 62 Middle Street, on the corner with Earlsdon Road.
The site is close to Portsmouth and Southsea station and a short walk from Guildhall Walk. Student housing is already common in the area, with other blocks nearby ranging from four to eight storeys.
The proposed building would feature 74 sqm of commercial space on the ground floor, with cycle storage, refuse areas and a lobby for residents. The upper floors would provide 28 self-contained student studios, each with its own kitchen and bathroom. No on-site car parking is planned, but 34 cycle spaces will be provided.
Developers also plan to install 24 solar panels on the roof to supply renewable energy.
The application follows an earlier scheme for the site, approved on appeal in 2022, but this version includes more flats and larger commercial space.
Planning documents state the proposal “represents an entirely deliverable, sustainable and suitable development that will contribute to delivering additional student accommodation and employment space”.
One member of the public has commented on the plans, objecting primarily to the height of the proposed block.
The Middle Street resident said: “There are no buildings higher than 4 stories at this end of Middle Street and a five-storey structure would be visually overbearing and out of scale with the two-storey houses across the street, undermining the established character of the area.
“This change would set an undesirable precedent for future developments and risk altering the streetscape in a way that is inconsistent with the local planning framework and community expectations.
“In addition, a taller building will have practical impacts, including overshadowing and increased pressure on local infrastructure and parking, which have not been adequately addressed in the new application.”
Residents can view and comment on the plans on the council website using the planning reference 25/00590/FUL.