Former Debenhams site in Portsmouth could house brand new skyscraper
The ideas announced for use of the location of an old Debenhams department store in
Portsmouth include a 38 storey skyscraper tower. If given the go-ahead and built, it would easily be the port city's highest structure.
As part of its Jubilee Place development, Phil Salmon Ltd proposes to construct more than 400 houses, as well as retail and office space. The company promised to "kick start the redevelopment" of the city's centre. The company from the Isle of Wight stated that it intended to file a planning application in the spring for the vacant property after the store closed in March 2020.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the tall building has been referred as as a "key part" of the plan for the intersection of Commercial Road and Arundel Street. With pedestrian linkages running throughout the property, the location would offer 1,800 square metres of ground floor retail space and 3,600 square metres of commercial space above it. There would also be an unspecified number of affordable key worker housing units among the 400 residences.
The developer submitted a request to tear down the structure in April 2021, but the council has not yet made a decision on it.
Councillor Steve Pitt is the council's economic chief. He's yet to be fully convinced by the project. He said: "It's a massive change proposed for that area - and a massive building, the city's first skyscraper - but we still need to see the final details of any planning application that comes forward."
On the other side of the debate, Ward Councillor Cal Corkery welcomed the scheme but did say that the area required "decent quality homes which are affordable for local people struggling with the cost of living" not "expensive luxury student accommodation."
On Thursday, a showcase of the new designs will be available at the old department store's main entrance and an online survey will be available until early January.
Main picture courtesy of Phil Salmon Ltd.
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