Former Portland Arms in Stamshaw put forward again as convenience store
Plans to convert a long‑closed Portsmouth pub into a convenience store have been refiled with the city council, reopening a debate about community facilities, opening hours and the commercial pressures on neighbourhood sites.
The application concerns the Portland Arms, a premises on the corner of Stamshaw Road and Weymouth Road that closed in July 2024 and was sold in April 2025 through property advisers Christie & Co. The latest submission, made to Portsmouth City Council by CPC Planning Consultants on behalf of applicant Joemon Kadapuram, proposes changing the building from a pub into a convenience store and creating a two‑bedroom flat on the first floor.
Developers say the scheme would “enhance the local area” by providing another shop within walking distance. The planning statement adds that the change of use would place the new store in an area already serviced by multiple outlets — listing three convenience stores, around 10 pubs and several takeaways within a one‑mile radius.
"The change of use would enhance the local area by providing a convenience store within walking distance and easy to get to."
This is not the first attempt to change the Portland Arms. Councillors rejected an earlier bid in October last year, citing concerns that the previously proposed opening hours would harm residential amenity. That refusal was taken to the Planning Inspectorate as an appeal but the appeal was subsequently dismissed.
The revised scheme addresses elements of the earlier proposal by altering the building’s frontage and removing some former pub features. Specific changes set out in the latest application include:
- Removal of pub signage;
- Blocking up an existing doorway and reinstating a previously removed front window;
- Taking down a rear canopy;
- Adding a two‑bedroom flat at first‑floor level.
Crucially for nearby residents, the applicant sets out proposed opening hours for the store as 6am to 11pm, seven days a week. The earlier scheme was partly turned down because planners considered the hours would cause harm to the amenity of neighbouring homes; it was that point which the council relied upon when refusing permission.
Local reaction to the new application has yet to be recorded on the council’s planning portal — the submission currently shows no public comments. Members of the public can view the documents and make representations via Portsmouth City Council’s planning portal using reference 26/00359/FUL.
| Key dates | Event |
|---|---|
| July 2024 | Portland Arms closed |
| April 2025 | Property sold via Christie & Co |
| October 2025 | Previous planning application refused |
| Post‑refusal | Appeal to Planning Inspectorate dismissed |
| 2026 (current) | Revised application submitted (ref 26/00359/FUL) |
Supporters of preserving pubs as community facilities will point to the loss of a social hub when a public house closes. The planning statement recognises that the Portland Arms had value to locals but says the applicant is responding to the commercial realities of the site and the market for sustaining a public house.
For neighbouring households and commuters using the route between Stamshaw and central Portsmouth, the matters before planners are familiar: whether a new retail use will bring an acceptable balance of local convenience and late‑night activity, and whether the addition of residential accommodation above a shop will mitigate or add to pressures on the street.
Officers at the council will assess the application against local planning policies, including impacts on residential amenity, the retention of community facilities and shop front design. A decision will determine whether the building begins a new life as a local store with a flat above, or whether the objections that scuppered the earlier proposal will again prevail.
Those wishing to view the proposals or submit comments should use Portsmouth City Council’s planning portal and quote reference 26/00359/FUL.
