Tower plan sparks anger
Proposal to demolish row of shops ‘another high street nail in coffin’
PLANS for new student tower blocks in the city that will see a row of shops demolished have been branded ' another nail in the coffin' for the high street.
Frustrated shopkeepers in Arundel Street, in Portsmouth's city centre, have voiced their objections to proposals from Fusion Students to knock down numbers 12 to 28 to make way for 591 student homes.
As part of the plans a 'cluster' of three blocks -a six-storey, a 20-storey and a 27-storey building - would be constructed.
Now a petition has been started by comic book store owner Lee Hobson, calling on plans to be scrapped.
Mr Hobson, who runs Comic Book XS which is based in the former British Heart Foundation shop, said: 'I'd just moved in and opened for four weeks, then had to close due to lockdown and then I was told the shops will be demolished in the coming months to make way for more student housing.
'It took me by surprise that the town centre needs more, after the Zurich building and Wingfield House were re-purposed into student accommodation and new buildings have been popping up all around the town centre to accommodate students.
'Most of the other shops in the same block have also just been occupied, which the town centre desperately needs. Local businesses to rejuvenate and bring in more people to the town centre.
'Taking shops away from the shopping centre is just another nail in the coffin.'
Don Price, 28, who owns the neighbouring shop S&D Sparkles with his partner Sian Marie Stott, agreed. He said: 'We have been in the shop since September and we were told the lease would be for a year with the possibility to extend.
'We found out about it when some men came to to something to the drains on the building, they told us it was being knocked down.
'We don't want to spend lots of money on decorating the place if it's going to be knocked down.
'Portsmouth has already got massive university blocks.'
So far 41 people have signed the petition.
A spokesman for Fusion
Students said: 'Fusion Students believe that there is a demand for purposebuilt student accommodation in Portsmouth, which will continue to grow before our development is completed in 2024.
'The redevelopment of this site will bring over 590 students into the heart of Portsmouth’s city centre, helping to revitalise the area and invest in the economy.
'We’re proposing a new retail store in our proposals, which along with our development will ensure that Arundel Street remains active.'
Residents can provide feedback on plans via arundelstreet.co.uk.
Other shops that would be demolished include Superdrug and Bon Marche.