Tipner West

Portsmouth’s once-in-a-generation opportunity

We are working on a new masterplan for Tipner West and Horsea Island East.

Portsmouth was granted £48.75 million by the government through the City Deal to explore how this area could be regenerated to create new employment opportunities in the marine and maritime sector as well as new homes for people in the city.

The new proposals will have nature at their heart and will prioritise the harbour’s natural habitats and biodiversity. Significant land reclamation and the previous masterplan for the site have been ruled out.

Our proposals will include plans for a green, marine employment hub, new homes and sea defences to better protect this part of the city from future flooding and we are working to improve the long term resilience of Portsmouth Harbour’s ecosystem.

Our approach

Nine guiding principles have been agreed by Portsmouth City Council to help shape the masterplan for the site. The proposals will have nature at their heart and will prioritise the harbour’s natural habitats and biodiversity.

The proposals will also be shaped by Portsmouth’s City Vision and extensive data and findings from the environmental, habitat, marine and heritage surveys that have taken place over recent years.

A cross-party group of councillors is working together to help inform and respond to the new masterplan as it is developed.

We’re also talking to the Environment Agency, Natural England as well as local environmental and wildlife groups as we look at the options for the site.

A new architect and ecology advisor have been appointed to work with the council to develop the vision for the site.

The council’s guiding principles

Portsmouth City Council agreed a set of principles to bring forward a new outline masterplan for Tipner West at a full council meeting in October 2022.

  • Rules out the ‘Significant Land Reclamation’ Option – the original ‘Lennox Point’ masterplan
  • Rules out ‘Do Minimum’
  • Prioritise the protection of the land south of firing range
  • Provide a minimum of 1,250 homes which maximises affordable housing and 58,000 sqm of employment space (minimum affordable housing at 30%)
  • Satisfies the terms of city deal
  • Satisfies the requirements of the regulatory bodies including Natural England and the Environment Agency
  • Maximises local job creation
  • Minimises costs and impact on council finances and services to the public
  • Minimises land reclamation to meet the principles listed above and provide biodiversity net gain of a minimum of 10%

You can read more about the nine principles that will guide the project and the decision taken by the council in the detailed meeting report.

Get involved

Portsmouth residents, businesses and community groups will have an opportunity to look at and help shape the plans later this year. Local feedback will help shape the masterplan and the outline planning application that will set out the vision for regeneration in this part of the city.

You can keep up to date on news, developments and opportunities to get involved in the project through this website and you can sign up to receive email updates.

You can contact the Tipner West regeneration team at TipnerWest@portsmouthcc.gov.uk