Council edges closer to delivering city centre north transformation
The City Centre North regeneration project has moved a step closer, with the council now reviewing development proposals submitted by Mace.
Portsmouth City Council hopes to transform the northern end of the city centre after the scheme, one of the largest on the south coast, secured planning permission in autumn 2023.
The redevelopment covers the former Tricorn and Sainsbury’s sites, which the council purchased to unlock long-term regeneration of the wider area.
The project aims to meet rising housing demand with a broad mix of homes, including multi-family build-to-rent or co-living schemes, single-family build-to-rent properties, extra-care housing and key worker accommodation. Hotels, offices and student housing also form part of the plans.
New walking and cycling routes are proposed, along with a large green corridor stretching from St Agatha’s Church to All Saints’ Church. In total, the scheme will deliver 2,300 homes, up to 10,000 square metres of non-residential space and 22,400 square metres of new green space and public realm.
The council appointed Mace in May, along with property specialists Montagu Evans and Vail Williams, to shape a delivery strategy for the project.
A council spokesperson said: “Mace and their partners have delivered their report, and we are now reviewing their proposals. Once complete, the next steps for the delivery strategy will be agreed, with a further update expected at a Cabinet meeting early next year.
“Alongside this, we’ve been actively promoting city centre opportunities at events and online through our Invest Portsmouth platform.
“For example, earlier this month, we organised a tour of development sites attended by over fifty property industry experts and investors, which is very encouraging to see.”
More individual development sites have also been added to the Invest Portsmouth website to highlight opportunities across the city.
The council began searching for a lead developer in August. At the time, it acknowledged challenges such as land assembly and infrastructure upgrades but said it remained “confident in the long-term success of the scheme”.