A planning application has been lodged to transform Portsmouth’s Connect Centre with a comprehensive makeover, featuring modern aluminium cladding to replace the building’s current dated exterior facade.
The proposal, filed by CPC Planning Consultants representing Southampton-based Homelife Investments Limited, encompasses converting existing office spaces and undercroft areas into 175 residential units. An additional two-storey extension on the building’s eastern side would accommodate another 16 flats, creating a total of 191 new homes.
Building Background
The structure, previously called Baltic House, dates back to 1973 and features an L-shaped design with dual wings—one extending to 11 floors and the other to seven. The building is encompassed by car parking facilities on all sides, including two internal parking levels.
Proposed Design Changes
Planning documentation reveals that the current facade consists primarily of clear and dark rectangular glazed windows serving the office areas, with red-tiled external cores that create varying facade depths through their protruding and recessed positioning.
The revamp proposes a contemporary aesthetic using powder blue and charcoal grey panels, complemented by aluminium louvre elements integrated into the design.
According to planning documents, the new facade treatment will feature “a mixture of insulated spandrel panels in powder blue, complete with colour-coated aluminium louvre panels framed using charcoal grey panels around each facade perimeter and at floor levels to establish strong visual focal points.”
Location and Impact
Positioned on Kingston Crescent, the modifications aim to enhance the building’s visual appeal whilst improving the surrounding area. The proposal emphasises that the updated facade will “enhance both the existing structure and local environment of a high-rise building situated on a primary route into Portsmouth, whilst providing an improved living environment for future occupants.”
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The documentation notes that the selected muted colours will provide enhancement without being overwhelming, helping to “reduce the visual bulk and create interest whilst softening the impact of what is essentially a large building.”
Parking Arrangements
The parking configuration would undergo significant changes, reducing available spaces from the current 221 to 83. Eight of these new spaces will feature electric vehicle charging facilities.
Public Access
Local residents may examine the cladding proposals using planning reference 25/00568/FUL, whilst the complete residential conversion application can be accessed via reference 25/00359/FUL.
