Southsea sea defences plants and street furniture plans approved

During a virtual council meeting members of the city council's planning committee unanimously approved landscaping plans for the new defences between Long Curtain Moat and Clarence Pier in Southsea.

Overall plans for the whole scheme that will span from Long Curtain Moat to Eastney were agreed by the council last year, however councillors requested that specifics for each section were brought forward for their consideration.

Under the plans a mix of native and non-native plants - including poppies, lavender and sea kale - will be kept in planters around the Clarence Pier car park. Street furniture such as benches will also be incorporated with new lighting along the moat walkway.

Speaking at the meeting planning officer Alan Banting said: 'The intention is to have a native plants that reflect the character of the city and non-native plants that will increase the biodiversity.

'This has been very carefully put together. Albeit it's quite a modest amount of planting but a lot of care has gone into its design.'

Work on this section of the defences started in September this year and is the first of six phases. It is expected to take 12 to 18 months with the entire scheme estimated to end in 2026.

Councillor Luke Stubbs asked for reassurance that the detailed designs were not ‘too prescriptive’. He said: 'I don't want us to get in the position if in the future the administration wants to make some changes to the landscaping should not have to go through planning permission to get that.'

SEE ALSO: Here is what work on the Southsea sea defences will look like

Officers confirmed changes to plants made in the future would not need to go through the planning system.

Cllr Lee Hunt said: 'I am very glad the committee has brought these finer details back. It is important for the public to be able to see what is coming.

'The seafront is ever evolving so some planting will probably change - some will be more successful than others.'

There are no plans for murals or public art spaces in this section of the sea defences.

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