Flat development proposed for offices amid letting struggles

Tuesday 18 June 2019

A town building, which has been “struggling” to be rented as office space for the past two years, could soon be transformed into flats, if plans put forward by Tamba Park's owner are approved.

Portman House, located on Hue Street, was recently purchased by entrepreneur Jonathan Ruff.

The agent for the redevelopment, Elliott Design Partnership, wrote in a statement accompanying a Planning Application for the site that Mr Ruff was “keen to reuse the existing building.” Portman House is not a listed building, neither does it have any historical or cultural significance. 

“With the site's existing size, shape and fenestration, re-purposing the building into flats seemed a logical solution, as notably the adjacent parts of the building currently have a residential use class to them,” the agents said.

Pictured: Portman House is located on Hue Street.

Plans include transforming the 338sqm of office space into four two-bedroom flats, with surfaces ranging between 66.2sqm and 81.8sqm, which the agents described as “in excess of current minimum housing standards.”

If the change of use is approved, Mr Ruff's company, JAJ Properties, will install better insulation in accordance with current minimum building regulation standards, new windows as well as a new heating system. 

No parking will be provided with the flats, but each will have its own covered cycle rack.

Pictured: The proposed layout of the flats on the ground floor.

Residents will have access to a private communal covered courtyard at the back. One of the ground floor flats will even have patio doors leading on to the courtyard, was well as a large roof-light above their open plan lounge, kitchen and dining area.

The design statement explained that the new owner is seeking a change of use from Office to residential due to the fact the building has been struggling “to be let as profitable office accommodation” for the last two years.

They said the previous tenant vacated the building in June 2017, but that the building was marketed by the managing agent as early as January 2017, with little to no interest to date.

Pictured: Portman House has received little to no interest since it's been advertised.

“With the drive for existing businesses to be closer to the esplanade quarter and the lure of new, luxury office accommodation has left many inner town properties difficult to be let in the current market, which is why we believe that the conversion, given its location, is better suited to that as residential accommodation,” the agents wrote.

Part of the building already has a residential use and the agents said the conversion would remove reduce the noise, traffic and air pollution from the close surrounding residential areas due to the reduced number of people travelling to the building.

“As an office you could expect upwards of 48 people commuting to the building 5 days a week,” they said, adding that their proposals would reduce the occupancy to just 14, 70% less.