PLANS to add additional storeys onto a flat block in the city centre have been put forward to civic chiefs.

Proposals have been sent to Southampton City Council to extend the flat block, 12-18, on Bargate Street, which will make room for six additional flats.

The building is currently three-storeys high and developers want to add a further two floors.

But concerns have been raised over whether the location is "appropriate" for a residential scheme, with calls for more "imaginative shaping" so close to the city's historic walls.

The proposed scheme shows new build third and fourth floors, which covers the entire roof of the existing building.

This will make both the front and rear elevations flush, with the height of the overall building including the proposed two storeys 15.59m. Both additional floors will be 2.4m in height.

The scheme creates six flats, all meeting or exceeding the requirements set within the technical housing standards – nationally described space standards.

Bargate Ward Labour Councillor Sarah Bogle expressed concerns about the plans.

She told the Daily Echo: "I’ve seen this application which falls under the government permitted development rights.

"I am not convinced that this is an appropriate location for residential as so close to a busy retail area and in a part of the city centre that could do with some more imaginative place shaping so close to the city’s medieval walls."

All flats are to be accessed via the proposed rear door within the rear service yard or front entrance from 16 Bargate Street, which are proposed under a separate planning application running alongside this one, a planning statement explains.

It continues: “The scheme meets all height requirements stated such as the floor to ceiling heights not exceeding 3m or the existing floor to ceiling height within the building. It is also important to note that the highest part of the proposed roof does not exceed 18m.”

The surrounding buildings, a mixture of residential and commercial, are currently taller than the existing building.

A decision is yet to be made on the plans.