The Planning Committee of Portsmouth City Council met on 10 September 2025 to discuss several planning applications, including a large car preparation facility, conversions of properties into houses of multiple occupation (HMOs), and a certificate of lawful development. The committee approved a car preparation and distribution facility on land at Fitzherbert Road, and also approved, with conditions, the conversion of a property on Moorland Road into a HMO. They also approved a certificate of lawful development for a property on Kirby Road.

Land at Fitzherbert Road

The committee approved the application for the change of use of land at Fitzherbert Road and the construction of a centralised car preparation and distribution facility. The facility will include a car storage area, valet service, offices, and a workshop. The application was brought to the committee due to the number of neighbour representations received.

The site, located within the Farlington Industrial Estate, will be used as a vehicle hub for multiple Richmond Motor sites in Hampshire and West Sussex. The development includes three distinct buildings: a multi-storey car storage facility, an office building, and a workshop. The car storage facility is designed with a variation in height, reaching five storeys at its southern half and four storeys at its northern half, and will include rooftop photovoltaic structures for sun screening and solar power generation.

The approval is conditional on adhering to a Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP), noise restrictions, and the implementation of biodiversity enhancements. The committee also stipulated that an Employment and Skills Programme be put in place to maximise employment opportunities for local residents, in line with policy PCS11 of the Portsmouth Plan.

The council's Highways Officer raised no objections to the scheme. The amended access would allow car transporters to enter and exit the site, reducing the need for them to stop on the highway of Fitzherbert Road.

69-73 High Street, Cosham

The committee were asked to consider an application for the retention and division of part of a ground floor commercial unit to form two commercial units; change of use of the rear ground floor to form a four-bedroom HMO; division of the first floor to provide two eight-bedroom HMOs; and construction of a mansard roof extension to form a five-bedroom HMO at 69-73 High Street, Cosham.

The application was brought to committee due to the number of objections received.

The committee delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Planning & Economic Growth to grant conditional permission subject to satisfactory agreement of a section 106 agreement¹ to secure:

• SPA mitigation, nitrates and bird disturbance (£30,445 in total)
• Transport contribution (£16,250) for improvements to the sustainable transport infrastructure within the local vicinity.

The committee also delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Planning & Economic Growth to add or amend conditions where necessary, and to refuse planning permission if a suitable legal agreement has not been satisfactorily agreed within six months of the date of the resolution.

29 Moorland Road

The committee approved the change of use of 29 Moorland Road, from a dwelling house to a house of multiple occupation. The application was brought to committee due to six objections and a call-in by a councillor.

The committee heard that the application was retrospective, as the proposed use had already commenced. The committee were told that the proposal complies with policy PCS20 of the Portsmouth Plan, as the number of HMOs within a 50-metre radius of the application site is below the 10% threshold.

The approval is conditional on limiting the occupancy to a maximum of three individuals, and providing secure and weatherproof bicycle storage facilities for four bicycles.

99 Kirby Road

The committee approved an application for a certificate of lawful development for proposed construction of a new gable end and dormer construction within existing roof space at 99 Kirby Road. The application was brought to committee due to a call-in from a councillor.

The committee heard that the proposals meet the relevant criteria and conditions of the General Permitted Development Order (2015) as amended, and so the issue of a certificate cannot be resisted or delayed.

70 Montgomerie Road

The committee considered an application for a change of use from a house in multiple occupation to an 8-bed/8-person house in multiple occupation at 70 Montgomerie Road. The application was brought before the Planning Committee due to receiving six or more objections.

31 Magdala Road

The committee considered an application for the conversion from two flats to a Class C3b dwellinghouse, removal of an external staircase and associated alterations to fenestration at 31 Magdala Road. The application was brought to the Planning Committee because it is a Portsmouth City Council scheme for the creation of a new dwelling where Portsmouth City Council is the applicant and landowner.

21 Folkestone Road

The committee considered an application for the construction of a single storey rear extension following demolition of an existing conservatory at 21 Folkestone Road. The application was brought to committee because the applicant is an employee of Portsmouth City Council.