Planning appeal decision
Selma & Spencer Court, Merton Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO5 2AH
Planning appeal 3317073 at Selma & Spencer Court, Merton Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO5 2AH (Portsmouth City Council) was dismissed on 9 January 2024 by Inspector Cramond D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effects of the proposal on the character and appearance of the locality.
the construction of additional storey to provide 3no. dwellings, with external terraces and associated works, including car parking and provision of external lift. This
- Authority
- Portsmouth City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Cramond D
- Postcode
- PO5 2AH
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effects of the proposal on the character and appearance of the locality
- living conditions for neighbours
- highway safety and parking provision
- nature conservation interests
What decided it
The unacceptable adverse effects on the character and appearance of the locality and on living conditions for neighbours, particularly the visual prominence of the new storey within the Conservation Area and the intrusive impact of the lift core on neighbouring windows, outweighed any benefits from increased housing supply.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy PCS23Policy PCS17Policy PCS13
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision


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- Allowed28 April 2026600178180 Gladys Avenue, North End, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO2 9BQ
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.
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