Delivering the city’s vision for the future
We are an ambitious and forward-thinking local authority with multi-million pounds of investment planned and underway across economy, planning and transport, focused on delivering the aspirations contained in the City Vision for 2040.
We are updating our Local Plan, the framework for delivering the aspirations and development needs of the city. The Local Plan will include policies on the design of new development, biodiversity and heritage, and will identify strategic sites for regeneration.
We have big ambitions for our city. We have plans for a vibrant, green redevelopment of the city centre, with some of the biggest changes planned for the north of that area. An outline planning application was approved in October 2023.We also have a Future High Streets project underway, which will see new planting, seating areas, play activities for children and community artwork in the city centre. In addition, we are continuing to deliver sites as part of Portsmouth’s City Deal. Planning consent has already been granted for the development of over 1000 new homes at the City Deal Tipner East site: and we are working on finalising a masterplan for Tipner West and Horsea Island East, a new city neighbourhood which will be anchored by a marine employment hub, and approximately 820 new homes in a high-quality environment, which respects the site’s existing maritime and terrestrial SpA and RAMSAR designations, and is protected by state-of-the-art coastal defences.
We are supporting the delivery of neighbourhood regeneration, for example at Somerstown, where a collection of post-war high-rise residential buildings will be redeveloped and enhanced with new social and private housing, community facilities and increased high quality public spaces.
We are also committed to keeping our city safe for future generations, and are responsible for one of our most ambitious projects, the Southsea Coastal Scheme – the UK’s largest local authority-led coastal defences project, boasting an investment of £180m. Stretching over 4.5km from Old Portsmouth to Eastney and will help reduce the risk of flooding to more than 10,000 homes and 700 businesses.
The council is also focused on economic development, including maximising the potential of the Solent Freeport, through the Portsmouth Gateway Cluster that comprises a customs zone at Portsmouth International Port and Portico and 43 hectares of undeveloped land with full tax incentives at Dunsbury Park – all sites owned by Portsmouth City Council. Solent Freeport will accelerate the creation of high-quality employment space. Investment will be specifically targeted at state-of-the-art growth sectors and ground-breaking approaches to decarbonisation and green innovation. Over 25 years it is expected to create around 32,000 jobs and generate £3.6bn of GVA.
The council also now has a wholly owned development company, Ravelin Housing, which was established to speed up the recovery of Portsmouth’s housing market by delivering private and affordable homes for sale and rent.
We take pride in our leading role in maintaining and enhancing the city’s vital transport networks. Our ambitious Portsmouth Transport Strategy (LTP4), sets out the council’s approach to transport to deliver a people-centred, connected, travel network that prioritises walking, cycling and public transport to help deliver a safer, healthier and more prosperous city. Our unwavering commitment to innovation and progress drives the investment of over £110 Million in transport, including revolutionising bus travel through the South East Hampshire Rapid Transit, the eagerly anticipated launch of ZEBRA buses in 2024 and many initiatives through Portsmouth’s bus service improvement plan. This is accompanied by a wealth of activity that also contributes to reducing air pollution from transport in Portsmouth including a variety of engaging behaviour change initiatives, the management of a clean air zone and infrastructure improvements that make it easier for people to walk and wheel, ensuring our city is accessible to everyone.
Economy, Planning and Transport Directorate structure
Infrastructure
The infrastructure team leads civil engineering projects across the city of Portsmouth and work with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders both within and outside the council.
The team is made up of team leaders, engineers, project managers, designers, and inspectors with skills and abilities that are contractual, commercial, technical, operational and performance based.
Projects delivered by the team in recent years include major road bridges in Copnor and Cosham, the Transport Hub at The Hard, the park-and-ride and new motorway junction on the M275, the cruise terminal building in the port, the Dunsbury Park Link Road and the Southsea and North Portsea flood defence schemes. The team is currently building new bus lanes to create faster public transport corridor through the city centre. This is a high-profile scheme that will provide vastly improved bus journey times across the city.
Planning and economic growth
The planning and economic growth teams work together delivering sustainable growth for the city and the creation of beautiful, well-functioning places.
Portsmouth is a UK top 25 GVA capital city and named most entrepreneurial city in the UK 2020. GVA grew by 3.6 per cent last year – the fastest rate for any city in the south – creating 2,700 new jobs and 920 new businesses, making Portsmouth the top city in the region for net growth.
The planning team develop policy, assess applications, and deliver associated work for CIL, enforcement, habitat mitigation and contaminated land, and are working to deliver Portsmouth’s local plan, on course for the Reg 19 consultation in 2024. An external building control partnership is also part of the department.
The economic growth and skills team provide business support and inward investment and deliver government-funded programmes to support the unemployed back into work, recruitment and skills development, and adult learning. They also deliver Portsmouth’s markets and operate enterprise centres throughout the city providing affordable rents and direct business support for entrepreneurs, start up and small businesses. The team also deliver high street management and events, including Southsea Food Festival.
Property and investment
The property and investment department has more than 50 property professionals; a mix of chartered surveyors, programme and project managers and aspiring property professionals.
The department is responsible for carrying out a variety of functions, including asset management and estate management of the council’s non-operational property portfolio (irrespective of holding committee) with a gross annual rent role of circa £30 million.
The team is also responsible for the management and development of large regeneration schemes including Tipner West (City Deal) and City Centre North; creating housing on behalf of Ravelin Housing Ltd e.g., Brewery House, Albian House, Doyle Ave and Fred Francis Close; commercial led property development and investment, such as Dunsbury Park (Solent Freeport) and fund management of national investment assets.
We also have expertise in acquisition and disposal work and provide services to our neighbouring authority, Gosport Borough Council, under contract.
Transport
The transport service delivers statutory obligations and functions as the local highway authority and local transport authority. Working collaboratively to transform travel for a cleaner, greener, and better-connected city. The department includes experts in transport strategy and policy, network management, parking and enforcement, air quality improvement, Portsmouth clean air zone, road safety and active travel, home to school transport, public transport operations and the national bus strategy.
The department has secured over £110 Million to support the transformation of travel in Portsmouth that is densely populated and heavily dependent on cars. This has resulted in significant investment to the South East Hampshire Rapid Transit, Portsmouth bus service improvement plan, rental e-scooter trial, the first residential EV charge points with dedicated bays being created in the UK in Portsmouth, and the start of more environmentally friendly bus travel with Portsmouth’s first electric buses expected next year.
Business management
Business management provides a comprehensive business service that supports the directorate to achieve its objectives. The service includes the Project Management Office (PMO), a team of project, programme and portfolio management professionals who support and enable best practice in project management and assurance for directorate and wider council projects and initiatives. They work alongside colleagues in the bid management team, who identify opportunities to attract funding, optimise bidding activity, and manage successful funding bids in line with requirements. The engagement team enable our residents to help shape our projects, delivering innovative, effective and award-winning community engagement and insight that connects regeneration and housing projects to the communities they aim to benefit. A range of administrative and support services are also provided for the directorate by the business support and administration team, which incorporates business support officers and assistants. Digital building information is provided by the building information management team.