Portsmouth and Southsea estate, letting and property management agency Chinneck Shaw has been appointed to manage the first purpose-built Build to Rent (BtR) project from Ravelin Housing Ltd, Portsmouth City Council’s wholly owned development company.

As managing agent for Brewery House in Hambrook Street, Southsea, Chinneck Shaw will oversee the professional letting and management of 17 new apartments, including four affordable homes for key workers.

The scheme has involved the renovation of the former Hambrook Street bottling store, a locally listed building originally operated by Long & Co Brewery and recognised for its character and historic interest.

In 1941, a German air raid on Portsmouth flattened the brewery, with bomb damage painstakingly repaired and the building restored in 1973. But although recognised as a heritage asset for the city, it eventually fell into disuse.

Topped out in December 2022, the four-storey Brewery House has been converted into 13 two-bedroom and 4 one-bedroom apartments in a sensitive and environmentally friendly renovation signed on the frontage as The Brewery.

Chinneck Shaw Associate Director Harry Renton-Rose, who has extensive experience of BtR developments including in London, said: “The Brewery House scheme is all about contributing much needed, modern homes to address housing demand in our city. While being the first of its kind here in Portsmouth, it reflects growing interest in Build to Rent developments nationally as part of the private rented sector."

“Our bid to the Council emphasised our long-standing Portsmouth presence and success as a trusted management partner for landlords and property owners across the city and wider region."

“We are hugely excited to be appointed as managing agent for Brewery House and have the opportunity to play our part in the scheme’s future.”

Brewery House is the first BtR scheme to be taken forward by Ravelin Housing, tasked by the Council with the delivery of private and affordable housing for sale and rent.

The building contractor is Ascia Construction and the eventual owners will be Hambrook Street Ltd.

Profits from Brewery House and other Ravelin developments will be used to support council services.

After the topping out, extensive interior works took place ahead of practical completion in the autumn.

Chinneck Shaw will now begin marketing the homes with the first tenants expected to move in within weeks.

Tom Southall, Managing Director of Ravelin Housing Ltd, said: “We are very pleased to have appointed Chinneck Shaw as the managing agent for our first development under Ravelin Housing."

"The building boasts modern, affordable and efficient housing that helps to support our local housing demand. This is a significant step forward for Ravelin Housing and the city alike and I am pleased that we can offer housing to local people ahead of the festive period.”