A developer is seeking advice about whether buildings under construction next to the National Maritime Museum could be used as student accommodation.

Pre-application advice has been sought relating to a development that already has planning permission.

Its use is currently restricted to shops (class A1), but the applicant is now seeking advice about using the units as restaurants (A3), financial services (A2), business units (B1), single dwellings (C3) or houses in multiple occupation (HMO (C4).

Planning officer Laura Potts supported some of the proposed uses in principle but added that strong justification would be needed to use the buildings as HMOs as it goes against the emerging neighbourhood plan.

Ms Potts also advised the applicant not to go down the route of using the units as drinking establishments or takeaways as there are nearby residents that could be affected.