Proposals from Faz Rabbani for The Freemantle have secured planning permission from Southampton City Council.
The redevelopment of the site, which is on the corner of Paynes Road and Park Road, comes around a year after it was purchased before going to auction for a sum between £360,000 and £380,000.
This sale came after the pub, which did not reopen following the first Covid lockdown, had been on the open market for several years.
(Image: Contributed)
The residential scheme involves converting the building and adding a two-storey rear extension to create two two-bed and three one-bed flats.
The application attracted 12 representations from residents supporting the scheme alongside two objections.
Those backing the proposal said they welcomed the building being brought back into use and providing additional housing.
One resident said: “The existing public house has been derelict and inactive for a considerable period of time and no longer contributes positively to the street or wider area.
“The proposed conversion into residential flats represents a sensible and practical reuse of an existing building, bringing it back into active use and helping to improve the appearance and vitality of the site.”
An objecting resident, who lives in a neighbouring property, said the building needed to be restored to its former glory and reopened as a pub so its history could live on.
(Image: Contributed)
Another opposed to the scheme said they had multiple special needs and the pub sign post provided a key landmark as knowledge they had arrived home.
As reported, a design and access statement submitted as part of the application said the pub had been closed for more than five years and no new landlords had expressed an interest in running the premises.
The statement said: “In summary, the proposal seeks to add a first-floor rear extension combined with subtle changes to the existing building, which collectively aim to complement and enhance the building’s character through use of materials and features, in terms of colour, finish and material quality.”
Council officers granted planning permission under delegated powers in a decision dated March 18.