Portsmouth and Southampton rivalry blamed for holding back investment

The long-running city rivalry between Portsmouth and Southampton is hampering economic growth and making it harder to compete for investment, experts have warned.

The relationship between Southampton and Portsmouth came under scrutiny during a discussion about the Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority (HSCCA) at the South Coast CPS, held at St Mary’s Stadium on November 11.

Panel members argued the new combined authority and its future mayor offered an opportunity to move beyond competition between different parts of the county and present a stronger investment case.

Eleanor Young, advisor at the Oxford Growth Commission, said rivalry was “one of the big problems” facing the area.

She said: “There is too much rivalry and competition. There isn’t enough collaboration, shared learning and realisation that to grow the UK’s economy, we need to create the condition that a rising tide should float all boats.”

Ms Young said a mayor could create a greater sense of “collaboration and shared endeavour” and help establish a plan for the whole region.

She added that one of the “real competitive disadvantages” facing Southampton and Portsmouth over the years had been their relatively poor connectivity with London compared with some cities further away.

Lorna Fielker, former leader of Southampton City Council and a 2028 mayoral candidate, said differing ambitions across the region meant areas were not working together when competing for investment.

She said: “It shouldn’t be about Portsmouth competing against Southampton, both of us competing against Hampshire. We should be talking about what is unique within our region that complements each other.”

Ms Fielker said previous efforts to establish greater regional collaboration had failed, but political leaders had overcome differences and agreed on a shared vision which led to the creation of the new combined authority.

She said the aim should ultimately be to ensure economic growth improves people’s lives, adding: “We moved away from political rivalry, because there is a huge amount of political rivalry, not just between parties, but actually between areas in the region.”

Jonathan Clarke, chief operating officer at Southampton Football Club, echoed the call for greater co-operation.

He said: “That rivalry should end on the pitch, and there is no reason why we can’t work together.”

Mr Clarke added that sports projects could generate wider social and economic value beyond football clubs themselves.

The HSCCA brings together councils across Hampshire and the Solent under a directly elected mayor, with responsibility for areas including economic growth, transport, housing and skills.

Its creation is intended to give the region a stronger, more joined-up voice when seeking investment and funding.