The Local Plan for Portsmouth is in the final stages of being prepared by Portsmouth City Council. Following government failure to provide a lawful view on Tipner West and having listened to views from residents, businesses and organisations including the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and RSPB, a Local Plan Addendum has been produced. This will be discussed by councillors on 11 November.
The Local Plan Addendum includes a new draft policy for Tipner West that does not harm nature conservation in any way that cannot be mitigated. A small number of other policies have also been included to take into account new evidence and comply with the latest Government policies on Planning.
The Council has been working with Government to understand their view as to whether the benefits of developing Tipner outweigh the impact on wildlife. So far, the Government hasn’t given a clear view, as two previous formal opinions were withdrawn after being found to be unlawful. The Council is waiting for a final opinion from the Government.
Councillors will decide on 11 November whether to approve the Local Plan Addendum for a final round of technical public consultation. The Local Plan Addendum will then be submitted for examination along with the draft Local Plan that was consulted on in 2024. Once the Local Plan and its Addendum is adopted this Plan it will form a single document and will become the statutory development plan for Portsmouth that will guide development in the city up to 2040.
The Plan allocates sites for development and sets targets for new homes and jobs. It will also introduce city wide policies on design, greening and the climate emergency while recognising that the capacity for growth in the city is limited by land supply, flooding, and special areas for nature conservation.
Councillor Hugh Mason, Cabinet Member for Planning Policy & City Development, said:
“I welcome the Local Plan Addendum for Portsmouth as an addition to the Draft Local Plan. We have refined some of our policies to take account of government interpretation of planning priorities.
“Once comments on this Addendum have been considered a final draft of the Plan together with the Addendum will be submitted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate along with all the comments received in the 2024 and 2025 consultations. I believe that, when final approval has been received, the Portsmouth Local Plan will provide a visionary planning framework which will guide the growth and renovation of our great city for many years to come.”
For more information visit portsmouth.gov.uk/localplan