'Hostile' plan is slammed by city watchdog
Plans for the £500m Northern Quarter redevelopment of Portsmouth city centre came under attack again last night.
Members of The Portsmouth Society, which has more than 200 members, gathered for their annual meeting last night and branded the scheme as dull and hostile, lacking leisure facilities and not serving the community.
The group's annual report contained a long list of criticisms which members want addressed.
The criticisms are the latest blow to what is supposed to be the bright future of Portsmouth city centre.
On Saturday The News published a secret report revealing no major shops, apart from Marks and Spencers and John Lewis, have put their names to the scheme, no cinema will sign up to the project and the project developers Centros will barely break even.
The Portsmouth Society report stated: 'We are profoundly disappointed by the proposal and very critical of it – for sheer dullness and lack of ambition. It crams as many shops as possible on to the site of the Tricorn – with very little if any gain to the public realm.
'None of the buildings – with the possible exception of Marks and Spencers, though it does not have a green roof and is arcaded – come up to current standards of sustainability.'
Dr Celia Clark, chairwoman of the society, said she doubted Portsmouth actually needed more shops.
She said: 'I am quite sceptical about whether we need that quantity of shops – we are over-shopped as it is.
'These plans drastically affect us as taxpayers. This city has been ripped off before and we don't want it to happen again.'
The society's report also attacks the proposals for public art: 'We have quite enough third-rate "public art" – a few sculptures planted about – in Gunwharf for example.
'Again Portsmouth deserves better'
John Holland, of the society's executive committee is calling on Centros to re-think its whole development plan and to come up with a Plan B.
He said: 'I am wondering if we should urge the city to have a Plan B, I am sure that it could be looked into.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 15 C to 24 C
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