Home | Living | Developing Portsmouth | Proposed Pompey stadium - the council's role | Horsea Island development

Horsea Island development

What about the impact on the harbour’s environment and heritage?
This will be among the issues that the club will have to address in the environmental statement that will accompany its planning application. Such issues will be considered by the council when deciding on the planning application.

Is the site a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or has it been given any other environmental protection?
The southern harbour edge of Horsea Island is designated as an SSSI. Under the 1979 European Wild Birds Directive, Portsmouth Harbour is also a Special Protection Area for birds and under the Ramsar convention of 1974 has status as an internationally important wetland. The harbour will be affected by any bridge to Tipner (see later question).

Are any protected animals or plants on the site? Would Brent geese be an issue like they were when the club proposed a stadium at Farlington?
We don’t yet know the precise area the club is proposing for the scheme, because it has not yet been formally submitted. So it’s not yet possible to say if any species might be affected or what they might be. However, the council understands that Brent geese may be an issue in the wider Port Solent area. The council will consult in detail with experts like Natural England and specialist bodies such as the Hampshire Wildlife Trust once any application has been submitted. Their evidence will help the council reach a view on any impacts of the scheme.

Could such environmental protection stop the scheme?
Environmental protection is one aspect that has to be considered when deciding a planning application. The council has to be satisfied that any impact on the environment or particular species would be acceptable.

How will people get to the new ground?
The club will have to submit details with any planning application about how people will be able to access the new ground by a variety of means, including walking and using public transport. The accessibility of the ground will be a key factor for the council when considering any planning application.

Doesn’t the scheme encourage people to use their cars?
Any planning application would have to show how people could easily get to the site without using a car. The application would need a travel plan to show how any improvements to public transport and cycle and footpaths would be funded, implemented and then managed once the scheme had been completed.

How would public transport be provided?
See above - any travel plan for the scheme would need to include measures on satisfactory improvements to public transport, which would be funded by the club and its developers.

How would access for pedestrians be provided?
This should be a fundamental part of any scheme. Until the precise details and locations of the development are known, it’s not possible to say exactly how and where pedestrian access would be provided. Pedestrian links between Port Solent, the stadium development and Tipner will be an important issue for the club to address in any planning application.

Would a park-and-ride scheme be provided?
The council understands that a park and ride scheme may be included in the club’s proposals. Any such scheme would be privately run.

Would there be a monorail? Who would provide and pay for this?
Previous proposals for a privately owned and operated monorail in the city have not progressed. It is unlikely that the club will propose a comprehensive monorail as part of its scheme. If it did require a monorail, then such a system would have to be provided and funded privately.

There’s been discussion about a new railway station at Paulsgrove. Who would provide that? Which organisations would have to agree, and what hurdles would have to be overcome?
The council has long seen that there could be a case for a Paulsgrove rail station. If the club proposes to fund it, then it could be considered as part of a package of measures to deal with the scheme’s transport issues. Network Rail and train operating companies would need to agree to the proposal.

There has also been discussion about a pedestrian and public transport bridge. Who would provide that? Which organisations would have to agree, and what hurdles would have to be overcome?
The council considers a bridge would be needed to link the stadium to Tipner, this would have to be agreed by the government’s Highways Agency and funded by the club and its developers. As a bridge would cross the environmentally sensitive Portsmouth Harbour, it will need to be assessed under habitats regulations.

The club have indicated that new sliproads off the M275 would be built. Who would provide these? Which organisations would have to agree, and what hurdles would have to be overcome?
Traffic access would be a fundamental issue for the council to consider once any application had been submitted. The requirement for a new sliproad off the M275 would depend on the exact location of the new development and information on the traffic it would generate. If the council decided a new sliproad was needed, the club and its developers would have to fund the works. The government’s Highways Agency would have to agree the layout and operational details.

How would the stadium and associated development affect existing roads to Port Solent?
The club will either have to show that the present roads could cope with extra traffic, or provide extra capacity. As mentioned above, information on the traffic generated by the new facilities will have a major bearing on what access arrangements will be needed.

How close would it be to shops and residents at Port Solent?
Until the planning application is submitted, it is not possible to say exactly where various aspects of the scheme would be. However, it is likely that the nearest new development could be on the northern side of the diving lake and to the north east of the proposed country park (former landfill site).

How does it fit in with plans for a country park on the former tip?
As landowner of the former landfill site, the council is committed to the creation of a country park. The proposed shopping development involves the loss of some of the proposed parkland, and to comply with national and local planning policy the club will have to justify the loss of this parkland or provide alternative open space.

How does it fit in with plans to regenerate the wasteland at Tipner?
The council will need to make sure any proposed redevelopment at Tipner will not prejudice any proposed redevelopment of Horsea Island, and vice versa. The council has promoted the idea of a bus, cycle and pedestrian bridge from Tipner to serve Port Solent in its city plan, and this could also provide access to the new stadium and associated development.

What would happen to the naval diving school?
The Ministry of Defence is the owner of the diving school, so this is a matter for the MoD to consider. Its future is likely to become clear once a planning application is received. However, initial discussions indicate that the diving school will move to the north west of the present lake, within the MoD land.

Is the land contaminated?
It’s possible that some or all of the land may be contaminated. Any planning application would have to be accompanied by detailed environmental reports that show how any contamination would be handled. These measures would then have to be approved by the council’s environmental protection team.

Who owns the site?
Horsea Island has many landowners, but the three public ones - the council, the MoD and the Crown Estate - are proposing to form a consortium, headed by the council, with the intention of making negotiations easier. The council is doing all it can to help the process along.

Will the council make money if the plan goes ahead?
It ‘s too early to say. If the council does sell any land, it will of course seek the best possible value  on behalf of residents of the city.

Isn’t there a possible conflict of interest, if the council is deciding a planning application and considering selling some of its land?
Any decision on planning issues is entirely independent from land ownership issues. There is a clear separation between the two functions, with different sets of officers and councillors making the decisions.

Will the new homes be for local people?
It is not possible to say at this stage, but we will be looking for a proportion of the homes to be affordable.

Who will operate the indoor arena and what type of events will be held there?
The club says the 10,000 capacity arena will be privately owned and capable of hosting major concerts, exhibitions and sport.

How will the proposed shopping development affect other shopping areas in the city?
In accordance with national and local planning policy, the club will have to show there would be no unacceptable impact on the city centre and other shopping centres such as Cosham and Fareham. 

How will noise from the stadium and arena affect wildlife on the site and residents in the proposed new homes?
As part of any planning application, the club will have to satisfy the council’s environmental protection team that wildlife and new residents will not be adversely affected by noise.