'˜Game-changing' plan to deliver 2,400 new homes for Portsmouth '˜still on track'

Officials behind Portsmouth’s biggest housebuilding project in living memory say plans to construct almost 2,400 new homes are progressing well, with work due to start soon.

Known as the City Deal project, the scheme will see key spots in the north of the city being converted into new housing and business sites.

Among the sites earmarked for future development by Portsmouth City Council are the former MoD firing range in Tipner as well as parts of Horsea Island and Port Solent.

As part of the proposal, the council is looking at reclaiming a large chunk of land around the firing range to create more space for homes and businesses.

Claire Upton-Brown, assistant director of city development at the council, said she was confident the plan would move ahead, with activity ramping up later this year.

Speaking to The News, she said: ‘There’s no-one else in the country looking at something as ambitious as this.

‘This will be a game-changer for Portsmouth.’

She added: ‘This new development will be here for 100 years. We need to get this right to secure the future of the city.’

First revealed in 2013, the plans have been on the backburner while council officials look to press them forward.

It’s hoped the site will feature top-end homes for wealthy young executives, boosting the city’s economy.

Five areas will be developed, two in west Tipner and one in the east, as well as a 25,000 sqm chunk east of the navy’s Defence Diving School and one in Port Solent.

Reclaimed land to the north west of the city would create a ‘super peninsula’.

Councillor Donna Jones, Tory leader of the city council, said the development could become a major boom for the area.

She added: ‘This will bring £1bn to the city’s economy.’

The site will include 58,000 sqm of employment space, plans show.

Council officials say the authority intends to build eco-friendly, high-end homes as part of the development.

Work is expected to begin in 2019/20.