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Aerial view of Tipner (commissioned by the Department of Transport) ww2.portsmouth-college.ac.uk/portsmouth/

Tipner scheme

Last updated: 09 December 2011 10:11 UK

Plans to transform Tipner with new homes, jobs and green space have taken massive steps forward recently.

Three initial planning applications for the area, giving the go-ahead for much-needed new homes and allowing the sites to be prepared for development, have been approved by the council.

And the government has announced almost £20m of funding for a council project to build a new junction for Tipner off the M275 motorway, along with a park-and-ride scheme. These transport measures are needed to make development of the area possible.

The planning applications concern sites in the east of Tipner, and were submitted by the three major landowners in the area – the Tipner Regeneration Company, the council, and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) – the national housing and regeneration agency for England.

Two planning applications, to build shops and 80 new homes on the former PD Fuels site, and prepare the site and three other plots for development, were made by the council and the HCA.

The Tipner Regeneration Company (TRC) submitted an application for cleaning up a site which includes the greyhound stadium, and building up to 518 homes.

Background

Tipner has been largely derelict for a number of years, but the land has massive potential to form a key gateway to Portsmouth.

Regenerating the Tipner area will bring major benefits to Portsmouth, most notably, the clean-up of former industrial land; the creation of new open spaces, parks and waterside walks; and much needed homes and jobs.

A masterplan for the area proposes:

• 1,600 new homes (of which 30% are proposed to be affordable housing)
• 25,000 sq m of employment for 1500 new jobs
• a high quality Park and Ride facility
• a hotel
• a residential tower
• waterside public open space
• a new motorway junction.

The Tipner site has been a difficult one to regenerate. However, the council is now working in partnership with South East England Development Agency (and its successor body) and Tipner Regeneration Company to realise Tipner’s development potential.

Transport improvements

The following transport improvements are required to provide access to the site and “kick-start” the regeneration process:

• A new motorway junction on the M275 at Tipner – This will provide access to the development site and greatly reduce the impact of construction traffic on local roads. At present the only access to the site is via existing narrow Victorian streets which are heavily and unavoidably used for on-street parking, servicing, and local access. An ‘emergency access only’ barrier is proposed, to restrict access from the junction onto existing residential streets for general traffic, in order to prevent rat-running along local roads.

• A new additional bus priority lane on the M275 heading south from the new interchange. This is intended to improve public transport between Tipner and central Portsmouth and improve bus reliability. It would be provided as an additional lane and would not remove any capacity for general traffic. Rudmore roundabout would be upgraded with traffic lights introduced to provide priority to southbound buses. Present public transport access to Tipner is very poor; and congestion on the approaches to central Portsmouth affects bus reliability.

• A park and ride site accessed via the new motorway junction, with a 10 minute frequency bus service to the city centre/Gunwharf Quays.This is intended to reduce pressure on parking in the city and reduce congestion. The location has been chosen to encourage use by visitors and local residents (who will need to travel to the park and ride site on foot or cycle).

The council will have to find a further £10m or more for the M275 scheme, either from its own funds or from partner organisations.

Planning process

A planning application for the proposed new motorway junction and bus priority lane has been approved. A planning application for the park and ride site is being prepared.

There has been extensive consultation with the public in connection with both the Tipner masterplan and the planning applications, involving public exhibitions, workshops, residents' meetings, neighbourhood forums and media publicity. These have sought to address concerns raised by local residents regarding rat-running, noise pollution and air quality, and landscaping. Consultation will continue as the scheme progresses.

More information

Below you will find links to further information about this project, a plan of the scheme, copies of our newsletter, minutes from residents' meetings, and the 2009 major scheme business case for the M275 scheme.

If you would like more information:

• call 023 9268 8205
• email tipner.projects@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
• write to:
Tipner Interchange Scheme,
Highways and Coastal Services,
Portsmouth City Council,
Guildhall Square,
Portsmouth,
PO1 2NE