Applicant Dogan Siringul tabled the scheme for the Shirley Hotel site at the corner of Shirley High Street and Park Street.
The development involves a first-floor extension and roof alterations to create an additional storey, which will provide a 14-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO) on the upper two floors.
The ground floor will be converted into a restaurant and a retail unit.
Banister and Polygon ward councillor Vivienne Windle. Picture: Southampton Labour
Members of Southampton City Council’s planning and rights of way panel were split on the plans, with chairwoman Vivienne Windle having to use her casting vote to break the deadlock.
Cllr Windle said: “It’s a big building, it’s in a busy area and there’s a lot of public transport.
“I don’t feel that there are sound planning reasons for turning it down.”
The car-free scheme attracted 38 objections during a public consultation and opposition from ward councillor Jeremey Moulton.
Amanda O’Reilly told the panel meeting on Tuesday, March 3, there were already significant issues with parking in the area.
On the proposed restaurant and retail units, she said: “There are four vacant premises within 20 to 50 yards of this property, so quite how they’re talking about getting more restaurants and another commercial unit when we can’t already rent out properties in the area in the immediate vicinity, quite frankly, is beyond me.
Pete Gallagher, owner of neighbouring shop Make it Magic, said illegal parking on the pavement outside the empty building every day impacted his business.
He also said the capacity of the development was too much for the corner plot.
Mr Gallagher said: “I worry for public safety, my business, my visibility on the high street and my ability to retail going forward.”
Planning agent Ali Ay said the applicant wanted to work with a housing association to use the accommodation for homeless people.
This information caused concern for some of the panel, but they were advised to consider the residential use as a HMO.
Panel member Cllr Sue Blatchford said: “This is a building which wasn’t supported as a public house.
“We can’t have an unused building for ever and ever on our high streets within the city.
“We do need to actually use buildings and to create actual homes for people.”
Cllr Rob Harwood said: “I think the overall use of the site is too intensive for that location on the corner.”
There was uncertainty over how the housing would operate, Cllr Richard Blackman added.
Cllr Jaden Beaurain said he was not comfortable supporting the application due to highways concerns.
Council officers added a condition to the planning permission requiring bollards to be installed on the forecourt to prevent illegal parking.