Enclosed skatepark circuit at Southsea Skatepark, Southsea

What was proposed

The application proposed enclosing the existing street circuit with a new entrance, café, toilets, educational and training space, and viewing areas.

“The proposal is for the construction of an enclosure for the existing street circuit, including new entrance, cafe, WC's, educational and training space, and viewing areas.”

“The proposed new building will be 2-storey, but the second storey will be double height. The existing grandstand will be dismantled and replaced with a new building. The second storey will be smaller in footprint with the roof providing an accessible viewing platform as well as a green roof. The second storey will host an indoor circuit and includes the provision of solar panels. The first storey will be of red brick while the second storey will be clad in copper.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The skatepark occupies 0.4 hectares within Southsea Common, with existing ramps, bowls, ancillary buildings, a historic bandstand and grandstand.

“This application relates to Southsea Skatepark. The site measures 0.4 hectares, in a broadly octagonal footprint and has a mixture of open elements, primarily finished in concrete hardstanding with a series of ramps and bowls sited within its boundary. There are a number of relatively small single storey ancillary buildings which function as a café and shop elements.”

“The skatepark is located within the centre of Southsea Common, which is a Grade II Listed Park and Garden. The surrounding Common is primarily a green and open space, with little change in elevation. The Common features a number of trees - specific mention is given to the row of trees located past the northern boundary of the site along Ladies Mile - two diagonal walking routes to the north of the site. Other trees bound the perimeter of this section of the Common.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Pre-application advice in 2019 indicated possible officer support, while a temporary portacabin application remained awaiting determination.

“Pre-application advise from 2019, with the officer advising that the scheme could be capable of Officer Support and encouraging the undertaking of public engagement.”

“This application, still awaiting determination, is for the continued use of the portacabin for use within the skatepark. The proposed works would be located on the location of the current proposed entrance building, so the two permissions are technically incompatible.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended conditional approval, considering the facility’s public benefits sufficient to outweigh less-than-substantial heritage harm.

“The National Planning Policy Guidance indicates that proposals causing 'substantial harm' is a 'high test'. The Conservation Officer has concluded that, when considering the above impacts to heritage assets in their whole, the harm associated with the scheme is less than substantial.”

“Where proposals lead to less than substantial harm, as the proposals do, the weight of the benefits to the public should be balanced against the harm caused by the proposals. In the case for public benefit, the positive impacts to the community and leisure use is clear through their attempt to secure a 'optimum viable use' on the site.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Highways, environmental health, trees, ecology, flooding and the Environment Agency raised no objection, while the Conservation Officer identified considerable heritage harm.

“No objection. The proposed changes to the site plan and continued use of the site as a skate park is not considered to result in any unacceptable harm to the safety or function of the highway and therefore no objection would be raised.”

“No objection. The applicant has provided a Flood Risk Assessment compiled by Thetis Engineering and data 03/06/2025. This has assessed current and future risk, by reference to Environment Agency data on flood levels.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent and the applicant made deputations to the committee.

The committee’s decision

The committee granted conditional permission with a revised flood-risk condition, an additional arboricultural method statement condition and a landscaping informative.

“Members' Comments. During their discussion, members expressed the following views: • This would be an asset to the city's sport offer as Olympic hopefuls would no longer need to relocate elsewhere to access better facilities. • There would be wider benefits for associated careers, including coaching, biomechanics and sports physiotherapy. • Aspects of the scheme reflected the city’s historic buildings.”

“RESOLVED that conditional permission be granted to include revised Condition 7 (Flood Risk) and additional Condition 8 (Arboricultural Method Statement) and include an Informative Note in respect of landscaping.”

Minutes