Updated Two events showcasing initial proposals to develop Portswood Shopping Centre, reportedly into student housing and retail, will take place this month.
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Portswood Shopping Centre is opposite Waitrose, and until recently was home to the now boarded-up vacated Iceland store.
Other businesses trading from the site include a charity shop, a locksmith, and various fast food outlets including Pepe’s Piri Piri - which as reported is expected to eventually move over the road to the Portswood Hardware premises.
There’s also currently a large customer car park at the rear of the site.
Proposals are at a pre-planning application stage, and organisers say the events will give the opportunity to see a public exhibition about the proposals, ask questions and give feedback.
“People can give us feedback either verbally or via a feedback form, which we will have available at the event,” said a spokesperson.
The former Iceland premises
There have been concerns locally about the closure of some independent shops in Portswood, coupled with the rise of takeaways, and some would like to see the council develop wider policies to shape the development of the Broadway. However some kind of retail provision would apparently need to be included in any new development.
“It’s important to understand that there are policies in place to retain a retail offer on the ground floor,” said Portswood councillor John Savage.
As previously noted, Portswood Shopping Centre was reportedly sold for around £10 million earlier in the year to specialist UK real estate investment and asset management firm Tri7. The centre is still listed as part of Tri7’s property portfolio at the time of writing.
Public exhibitions about the plans are at October Books, 189 Portswood Road, SO17 2NF on Saturday October 19, from 11.30 – 3pm, and on Thursday October 24 from 5.30- 8.30pm.
• Update 18/10/24 A website about the scheme is now live which gives more detail about the proposed approx 500-room student accommodation, communal and retail spaces, and a target construction start date of autumn 2026, and opening date of autumn 2029.The exhibition boards can be downloaded from website as a PDF.