But that doesn’t mean we are not bursting with opportunities to bring about a regeneration in the areas they are most needed - it just means we have to be far more clever with the sites we have.
Like other cities around the country we have derelict and long-empty sites whose potential is just going to waste, and we need to make sure everything possible is done to ensure that businesses don't let those opportunities go and make the most of them.
The long talked about regeneration of the north of the city centre has moved at a glacial pace for many a year, but now there may be reason to believe there may be more reason to be optimistic with planning permission finally granted for a scheme.
New housing is being created in areas such as Somerstown replacing Horatia House and Leamington House (captured in the video embedded in this story), plans for tower blocks have also been mooted in our city centre and work is also ongoing to bring Hilsea Lido back to life.
But we also need to make sure we do not just concreate over everything or just focus on our brownfield sites - and a new country park could be just the answer we have been looking at.
Here we look at 16 sites in the city which we believe hold the key to a real rejuvenation in our city to ensure it succeeds both today, but also in years to come.
5. Eastney Swimming Pool
There has been much debate about the Eastney Swimming Pool site, with campaigners fighting for it to be repaired and improved. But instead the council has opted to build a new leisure centre with community facilities at Bransbury Park instead, sealing the fate of this pool which never reopened after the pandemic. Now, the site has been earmarked for a new watersports centre which it is hoped will bring around a regeneration of what is generally a quieter part of the seafront. We are in the very early stages of consultation so no firm plans have been shared. But it would be great to make the most of our city's seafront to help boost tourism as well as what is on offer for local residents too. | The News Photo: Keith Woodland
6. Hilsea Lido
Another project which is already underway, thanks to key government cash, is the development of Hilsea Lido. The city council is carrying out the essential works needed to make the facility useable as well as find someone to operate it - but that is only the beginning of the story. The operator will also take on the Blue Lagoon and will have the potential to spend more much to carry out more investment in the site to make the lido even better - including making it heated. The site's location next to the wakeboard centre, park and pump track make it a key leisure area for the north of the city, so bringing about its regeneration is key. Picture: IslandCity.UK | Habibur Rahman
7. Civic Offices
The city council is undergoing a major review of its office estate with a view to looking at potentially downsizing or even moving its office-based staff. This also comes at a time when a review is being carried out about the structure of local government, which means the future of the city council is still up in the air. However if the city council (or its successor) was to downsize or relocate from the current civic offices it means there is prime space which could have huge potential. We await the outcome with great interest. Photo: Contributed
8. Former Matalan site in the city centre
Matalan, on Station Road, Portsmouth shut in September last year as the discount retail brand relocated to The Pompey Centre. And it provides another opportunity to bring about change and new life in the city centre. We already know HMRC is planning to move into a new purpose-built office block being built on the car park. BUT no plans have been outlined yet for the rest of the site where the retail unit currently sits. So this is very much a case of watch this space! Photo: Chris Moorhouse