The vastly improved coastal path by Eastern Road has reopened as part of the fourth phase of the North Portsea Coastal Scheme.
Further landscaping work with more seeding and tree planting will continue until later this year, bringing the total of new trees planted in the area to more than 200.
The Langstone Harbour Viewing car park near Tangier Road has been fully reinstated and can be used partially until final landscaping work is completed.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council said:
“The opening of the coastal path at Eastern Road comes just at the right time, as work on the final phase of the North Portsea Coastal Scheme at Ports Creek is starting.
The stretch along Eastern Road has been significantly enhanced by the project, both in terms of flood defences and beautification of the area for recreational use.
By spring 2025, when all the newly planted trees have started to establish and wildflowers are in full bloom, it will be a great spot for our community to walk along the coast and enjoy nature.”
The path is open to people walking along the route, but people on cycles or rental e-scooters should use the shared path next to Eastern Road.
Work in the area from Kendall’s Wharf in the north along the Eastern Road to Milton Common has been underway since late 2019 and included:
- Completion of full height concrete sea wall with special Ecoformliner texture facing the sea, 3 areas of glass flood wall and 138 integrated tidal pools
- Creation of 8 new rest areas, with new benches, picnic tables (including wheel chair accessible picnic table) and wayfinders
- Completion of the improved coastal footpath along the new seawall
- Raising of the remaining areas along the wall to keep the height at 1.2m and retain sea views to pedestrians & cyclists
- Construction of a new ‘bird island’, a roost island for overwintering birds. A naming competition was launched in July 2023 and attracted more than 240 entries – with Cockleshell Island named as the winner
The North Portsea Coastal Scheme covers 8.4km of coastline from Tipner through to Milton. Most of the area is low-lying and many of the current coastal defences are approaching the end of their effective lives. The new coastal defences are designed to significantly reduce the risk of coastal flooding over the next 100 years, reducing the risk of flooding from the sea to over 4,200 homes, 500 businesses and critical infrastructure including Eastern Road. On completion, the scheme will offer protection against a 1 in 500 year coastal flood event and will tie in with the defences built at Anchorage Park to the North and Milton Common to the South. More info on Protecting the Future of North Portsea Island — Coastal Partners
The scheme is part of the council’s ambitious regeneration vision to bring even more growth and prosperity to our proud and historic city. Find out more about all the regeneration plans and projects at www.portsmouth.gov.uk/regeneration