Part of Revolución de Cuba bar could be transformed into flats

Developers want to transform the second floor of Revolución de Cuba, which has been closed since January, into flats.

The new development will contain one two-bedroom flat, three one-bedroom flat and one studio apartment.

But the ground and first floors will be retained with a tenant to be confirmed in the future, an application reveals.

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The planning application for the Above Bar Street building, which also boasts a roof terrace and has sat empty empty since its closure earlier this year, states: “The applicant is the new leaseholder, who are planning to retain the ground floor and first floor of the premise for future food and beverage businesses.

“While maintaining the ground floor most of the second floor will be converted into affordable furnished apartments for staff accommodation.”

Revolucion de Cuba on Above Bar Street could be partially converted into flats (Image: Google Maps)

External alterations to the building are also included in the application and include a new front entrance and the installation of new roller shutters to protect the shopfront.

The application states that the new lease holder feels that the total space across all three storeys plus a basement is too vast in which to run a singular restaurant business.

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It adds that converting part of the space to residential use will improve the economic viability of the building which has "a chronic problem of long vacancies between occupancy".

One Southampton resident responded to the application to state they feel the mural on the outside of the building should be preserved.

The resident added: "I'm not sure how the building would look with steel shutters, it's in quite a prominent position - would strong multi-glazed units not be enough to put off thieves, particularly if staff are still on site?

"I enjoy the colour that the existing mural has brought to the area and think a mural should form part of any re-development.

"I like the addition of fans for the staff flats, that shows a degree of thought.

"Overall, it's a big unit and it's understandable the leaseholder wants to make it more sustainable."