Tipner West: Concerns about controversial development dominates views expressed about city's local plan

The deadline for local residents to comment and express their views about the proposed local plan, which outlines the city’s vision for development until 2040, was yesterday (September 3 2024), with Councillor Hugh Mason, cabinet member for planning policy, saying that the a major concern expressed relates to the controversial development at the site.

As previously reported by The News, the council plans to build at least 800 homes on the site, located on the north-west corner of Portsea Island, along with a marine employment hub and upgraded sea defences. However, the site has several ecological protections, requiring the council to undergo a stringent process to gain approval.

Cllr Mason said: “We intend to build there and will approach the government, suggesting that, given the situation of this city, there is a matter of overriding public interest. It’s one of the few open areas we have left. You will need to upgrade the very poor sea defences, which will cost many millions.

“Since there is no housing already there, you will not get a government grant for the sea defences based on the number of houses — that’s the normal way they do it. If you don’t have a good number of houses, between 800 and 1,000, anything less than that, the additional cost of doing the sea defences becomes prohibitive.”

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has consistently objected to the council’s plans, arguing that it would result in the loss of protected habitats.

The trust recently said it encouraged members to comment on the plans, which it claimed had garnered 6,000 responses from people across the country telling the council “that their plans for development at Tipner West cross a red line”.

Debbie Tann MBE, the trust’s chief executive, added: “The proposed development at Tipner West is a crucial opportunity for the Council to stand up for nature in Portsmouth, before it is too late. If plans go ahead, between 2.1 and 6.5 hectares of legally protected wildlife habitat could be lost, with severe implications for biodiversity and climate resilience in the city, and setting a damaging precedent for the conservation of nature nationwide.”

Meanwhile work has already begun on the nearby Tipner East site on the other side of the M275 where planning permission has been granted to build 835 new homes.