The new shelters will include a range of features such as smart lighting, real-time travel information, free public WiFi, defibrillators and Living Roofs designed to improve comfort, safety and accessibility for passengers. Shelters will be installed in areas including Cosham, Palmerston Road, Fratton Bridge and South Parade, with most arriving in 2026.
While not every shelter will include every feature, each location has been carefully considered to ensure enhancements are tailored to local needs and site conditions and represent good value for money. In the transport industry, these upgraded shelters are often referred to as Super Stops, a term used to describe high-quality, feature-rich bus infrastructure that supports a better passenger experience. In Portsmouth, they represent a significant step forward in how people wait for and use buses.
The work is part of Portsmouth’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), supported by £52 million in funding from the Department for Transport. It aims to make bus travel easier, more reliable and more attractive for everyone.
Councillor Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Portsmouth’s transport transformation is well underway. These new bus shelters will improve the experience for everyone using them, whether you’re commuting to work, heading to the shops, or making a hospital appointment. By investing in smarter, greener, better infrastructure, we’re making public transport more accessible, more reliable, and more welcoming for all types of journeys.”
Alongside the new shelters, Bauer Media Outdoor and the council are also delivering a citywide refresh of existing bus stops through its Revive programme. This includes replacing ageing shelters, upgrading lighting, installing Living Roofs where possible and improving signage and accessibility.
The refresh is based on a detailed 72-point audit of 572 bus stops across Portsmouth. Where possible, by improving and extending the life of existing infrastructure and reducing carbon emissions, the programme supports the council’s commitment to sustainability in construction as well as in sustainable and inclusive travel.
Portsmouth won gold at the National bus awards and will also host the Quality Bus Conference in 2025. Delegates will come from across the UK will visit the city to see and explore the improvements being made and take part in guided tours of the upgraded infrastructure.
For more information about the conference, visit www.qualitybus.uk/conference-programme-2025