I think we need to up the ante and get a moderator to listen, its not as if were a small number here; the welsh subforum with all the advantages a subforum brings to create proper focused debate and ease of access and comprehension for visitors appears to have around 10 regular posters, this thread gets around 4/5, Bristol's gets around 7/8, even Gloucester and Weston-Super-Mare have about 3/4 each.

I don't think its overly ambitions to expect those figures to at least double with a dedicated subforum given all that is going on in these areas, similarly the numbers of forumers from other parts of UK&I popping in to view and comment will increase dramatically.

I haven't heard a single argument against this and its starting to piss me off that nothings happening.

WDN thread made. :cool:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1382188

Some pics of progress at fort Nelson;
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3346/5737247626_56dda810fa_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalarmouries/5737247626/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalarmouries/5737247626/) by Royal Armouries (http://www.flickr.com/people/royalarmouries/), on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/5736695485_053830c24e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalarmouries/5736695485/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalarmouries/5736695485/) by Royal Armouries (http://www.flickr.com/people/royalarmouries/), on Flickr

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2176/5737245682_77e82076c4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalarmouries/5737245682/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalarmouries/5737245682/) by Royal Armouries (http://www.flickr.com/people/royalarmouries/), on Flickr

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2364/5737243824_0edbabbb8f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalarmouries/5737243824/)
Backfilling the side of the visitor centre with chalk (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalarmouries/5737243824/) by Royal Armouries (http://www.flickr.com/people/royalarmouries/), on Flickr

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2224/5736690697_7a10d21276_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalarmouries/5736690697/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalarmouries/5736690697/) by Royal Armouries (http://www.flickr.com/people/royalarmouries/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5109/5736690231_6a4754af71_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalarmouries/5736690231/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalarmouries/5736690231/) by Royal Armouries (http://www.flickr.com/people/royalarmouries/), on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/5736689989_30606bc20c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalarmouries/5736689989/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalarmouries/5736689989/) by Royal Armouries (http://www.flickr.com/people/royalarmouries/), on Flickr

The round structure is the new visitor centre which looks like its going to be buried and the wooden structure within the fort is the new gallery. Looking much better than I was expecting.

I was not expecting a wooden construction. The green credentials must be pretty decent.

The gallery will look great if all of the open bits are glazed and then some sort of green roof added on the flat bits, I'm fairly certain that's the plan - would any other roof treatment work in the context of the fort?

Eco credentials yes, except for all that concrete in the visitor centre. The wooden structure certainly looks a lot better than a load of steel especially since it will remain exposed.

Some of the piling is done for The Blade, took a look today.

Lots of activity at the Blade today, a whole queue of trucks waiting to enter the site.
There were about 4 lined up when I arrived, and quite a few more came along as I was taking the pictures:

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss180/KingOfTheTitans/Portsmouth/BladeProgress1.jpg?t=1306150462

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss180/KingOfTheTitans/Portsmouth/BladeProgress2.jpg?t=1306150462

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss180/KingOfTheTitans/Portsmouth/BladeProgress3.jpg?t=1306150462

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss180/KingOfTheTitans/Portsmouth/BladeProgress4.jpg?t=1306150462

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss180/KingOfTheTitans/Portsmouth/BladeProgress5.jpg?t=1306150462

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss180/KingOfTheTitans/Portsmouth/BladeProgress6.jpg?t=1306150462

copied from WDN:

I hope they remove those barriers in the middle of the road, insert a few tress in the central reservation and make it more pedestrian friendly :)

Also, thanks for the update :)

I hope they remove those barriers in the middle of the road, insert a few tress in the central reservation and make it more pedestrian friendly :)

It would look much better but I'd be surprised if they did, there's no real need to cross Anglesea Rd. except from at the two ends where crossings exist. Also there's a bit of a safety issue with drunk students walking home from Gunwharf, the fact that they were looking at rebuilding the pedestrian bridge shows they see this as an issue. Anyway a higher priority should be removing all the barriers and the brick toblerone from WC avenue.

Presumably these trucks are taking away all the spoil from the ground works. They seem to be generating a lot considering there's no basement to dig out?

Good to see this is in full swing, I'm gonna have to do some updating of the project summary. To show this as U/C!

On another note I've finally found the plans and architects of the Fort Nelson development, I think its fair to say they look excellent. I've set up another thread on the Cultural and Sporting venues sub forum to avoid diverting this thread too much. Here's a link; http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1385614

I saw the plans when I was up there last. Should have taken photos really as that was over a year ago! There are some nice renders up there.

Very quick update from today - they appear to be taking down the hoarding around the Blade site and replacing the wooden fencing that keeps the hoarding stable (there were a couple of trucks from some fencing company, one of which you can see below). Not sure if they're planning to re-install the same hoarding afterwards, or replace the site barrier entirely. Didn't have time to stop for any length of time (was on my way to an exam!) but I got a picture:

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss180/KingOfTheTitans/Portsmouth/DSCN2854.jpg?t=1306242826

I expect they'll be adding some sort of branding to the new hoarding..... hopefully we should find out who's building it.

Had another look on my way to HMS Warrior at about 3pm, they were putting all the plain blue hoarding back up, so no branding just yet! Looks like they were just re-fortifying it or something like that, so nothing exciting by the looks of it!

I'd just like to say (belated) congratulations on the Blade beginning construction! I only visit this thread occasionally and as has been mentioned previously there is very little visibility for this project elsewhere in the Forum - a South of England subforum is a very good idea. Can someone remind me how tall it's going to be please (I know it was supposed to be taller than 1 Gunwharf Quays which is 95m I think).

101m

Is that a window in the hoardings I can see to the left of the blue van in superman's last pic? Could be a good place to view the excavations if so. Planning to be down there this weekend so I'm gonna have to have a good scout about.

Let us know when you're around, Pompey77! We can organise a trip to the pub if you're up for it - ill tonkso and I were talking about having one for the Pompey forumers in the near future!
And yeah it does look a little bit like a viewing window, maybe for people in Victoria Park to see what's going on. I'll keep an eye on it and maybe even wander into the Park sometime to see if you're right.

I can confirm it is, I was peeking through it sunday!

Went through on the train an hour ago. Not much going on, just some clearing of the ground. Quite a good view from the railway, naturally.

We have Cladding!

http://i51.tinypic.com/nb91lc.jpg

I thought I would pop by today and I was greeted with this little Beauty!

Never seen the cladding go up before the building! :lol: Does this sample look a little different to the impressions we've seen before?

We have Cladding!
http://i51.tinypic.com/nb91lc.jpg


Well that's.... grey.... :cry: It doesn't look too good does it.

I quite like it......but I liked the Tricorn.......

Its a lot brighter in real life, as you can see in the rest of the shot my camera took the colour out of everything. It is more of a subtle blue on white.

Well I liked the Tricorn too. I hope your right tonksie the cladding is make or break, I fear this building could look very oppressive with those colours. I was hoping for something similar to Downing plaza in Newcastle which just looks great in the sun;


http://www.entertainment-newcastle.com/images/downing20110407_2.jpg

http://www.entertainment-newcastle.com/images/downing20110407_8.jpg

http://www.entertainment-newcastle.com/images/downing20110407_9.jpg

http://www.entertainment-newcastle.com/images/downing20110407_10.jpg

http://www.entertainment-newcastle.com/images/downing20110407_11.jpg

In other news;

Harry Redknapp is talking to the council about removing the requirement for affordable housing in the Savoy Buildings development. Can't see that this is likely to start any time soon.
The revised plans for the Sommers town community hub are due to go on show. I believe it was somebody at the council who said that it now looks like a bike shed on a bridge.
According to Gosport BC the new ferry landing stage should arrive from Holland over the next couple of weeks and will be installed over the weekend of Friday the 17th and Monday the 20th of June. Pictures and more info here; http://www.gosport.gov.uk/sections/your-council/council-services/leisure-amenities/gosport-ferry-new-facility/
The National Museum of the Royal Navy has submitted an application (11/00475/FUL) for reconfiguring the museum which includes a new glass link building between Storehouses 10 and 11 and the enclosure of the colonnade of Storehouse 10.

Revealed: Final design of ‘hub’ at the heart of new Somers Town

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/regabc123/345101096.jpg

THIS IS the final design for a multi-million pound community hub in one of Portsmouth’s most deprived areas.

The two-storey, £12m tubular building will span Winston Churchill Avenue, and will be built as the final stage of the Somers Town regeneration phase one.

The building will contain a health centre, with a dental service, a housing advice centre, a cafe and community centre to replace Southsea community centre, and a youth centre to replace the Brook Club on Sackville Street.

The regeneration team hopes to submit a planning application for the centre in September, with work to start in May 2012 and finish by December 2013.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/politics/revealed_final_design_of_hub_at_the_heart_of_new_somers_town_1_2741971?commentspage=0

Well its not as bad as I suspected but I still think the idea of building it over WC avenue is a stupid one. The serious regeneration plans have lost the government funding now anyway so I guess it doesn't matter either way, this is about the only major thing which is going to be built.

Plans to transform Portsmouth’s Northern Quarter back on

MULTI-MILLION pound plans to transform Portsmouth’s city centre are back on track, The News can exclusively reveal.

Proposals for the £500m Northern Quarter shops scheme were shelved in 2008 as the recession began to bite – but now they are set to move forward once again.

And The News understands a huge John Lewis department store and a Marks and Spencer remain at the heart of the proposed development.

The revelation comes as business and council leaders meet today to discuss a Shaping the Future of Portsmouth strategy which brings together multi-million pound projects that will transform the city over the coming years.Next month the council will decide on crucial legal details of the Northern Quarter proposals, before a full plan is submitted early next year by developers Centros, who remain behind the project.

Kathy Wadsworth, strategic director for Portsmouth City Council, said the commitment of Centros to the project never wavered, but the economic crash changed everything.

She said: ‘The developer found that the plans they had drawn up before 2008 were no longer viable, but they had regular meetings with us throughout the period since, and always intended to submit new plans.

‘They believe the time is now right to revive the project and we are looking to support them as much as we can.

‘Portsmouth deserves a really fantastic city centre and we are all looking forward to see what Centros has come up with.’

Original plans submitted by Centros boasted a million square feet of commercial floor space, but the council says the new plans will be significantly revised.

Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock, who is also the city councillor for regeneration, said the scheme was just one part of a plan to increase Portsmouth’s competitiveness in business and industry.

He said: ‘This strategy has been developed over the last 12 months by involving people from all economic sectors and all parts of the city.’

Today more than 100 businesses will attend a conference to hear about the Shaping the Future of Portsmouth strategy. Among the developments planned are new office space at Lakeside Northarbour, a new hotel in the former Zurich headquarters, and the regeneration of Somers Town.

John Marsh, development director of Centros, said: ‘We have examined many scheme options, and we’re now down to a shortlist of two, which we are taking forward in consultation with the council.

‘A completed Northern Quarter will ensure that the city achieves its ambition of becoming one of Europe’s leading waterfront cities.’

Recession forced developer to shelve plans

CENTROS was forced to put the regeneration of the city centre on hold during the recession.

The firm insisted that the financial crisis meant its original plans were not ‘economically viable’ and had to be scrapped.

The developer was due to start work in 2009, but instead the council and a handful of other groups resorted to interim measures such as improving benches and flower beds and finding temporary uses for the derelict shops at the northern end of Commercial Road.

The original scheme would have involved a four-star hotel, a John Lewis and Marks and Spencer, 80 new shops and 200 new homes.

It would also have demolished much of the northern end of Commercial Road – including everything beyond HMV – but these shops have been forced to keep trading with compulsory purchase orders hanging over the area.

According to a Centros spokesman, building work under the revised scheme is now likely to start in 2015.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/east-hampshire/plans_to_transform_portsmouth_s_northern_quarter_back_on_1_2750131
:banana:

Marthas has already closed for it, closed on Sunday I think.

Watkins Jones to start £30m Portsmouth Blade tower
Aaron Morby | Tue 14th June | 7:38

Construction group Watkins Jones starts work this week on a 33-storey landmark tower for Portsmouth University.

Portsmouth City Council last week gave its seal of approval to the student accommodation block dubbed the blade tower, which will be built on the site of the former Victoria Baths in the city centre.

The project designed by Architecture PLB consists of a main 108m high building with rooms for 600 students, and a second, smaller 4,600 sq m building to be shared by the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies and the School of Education & Continuing Studies.

Test piling has been completed and Rock & Alluvium will start foundation work this week.

Watkins Jones’ specialist accommodation arm is handling the project and has signed up Stephenson Construction for the concrete frame.

All other packages are up for grabs including a steel frame portal for the smaller academic building.

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2011/06/14/watkins-jones-to-start-30m-portsmouth-blade-tower/?

:)

Not at all related to development, but does anyone know what those strange bee/beetle hybrid things are which fly at people on the common? I was down there with my friends today and I've never seen anything like them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_beetle

take a look at the picture, is this what it is???

It could very well be. My friend punched one after it flew at him and we got a good look at it, seemed similar. It was funny to see people running around the common flailing their arms in the air.

Thanks :)

I just moved away from Southsea Common. Not massively pleased but it was a sensible decision to move back home for a bit. Flatmate moved out, couldnt afford the place by myself. Gonna still check out The Blade as much as possible, and should be back down there in a months time if I can find a new Flatmate (Fingers Crossed!). One thing I do now have however is a skyline view, I will do my best to get a shot of The Blade when we have a core going from North Harbour.

http://i53.tinypic.com/16898o1.jpg

Basement work and Piling on The Blade.

Does anyone know whats going on with "Number One Portsmouth" (The Hotel) just wondering as I'm starting to think it will be an archived proposal...

Maybe i have misinterpreted the whole situation but im not expecting it to be built.

Basically the way i understand it is that the company that proposed the scheme and was trying to get planning approval was nothing more than a property development company - (maybe some house building).

In my opinion they were doing the classic; buying a piece of land and increasing its value by gaining planning approval with no intention of actually building on it and then selling it on - basically property development.

But of course i could be completely wrong!

The project has recieved full approval by the City Council and they have a 4 star Hotel Operator onboard.

The only link that is missing is Funding. They have so far been unable to get any.

Getting a hotel operator on-board is a surprise since it would imply there is more substance to this than i thought - fingers crossed i guess!

But maybe im just a pessimist since i still expect the project (or similar) to change hands.

Thing is there was never any official announcement of an operator, we only got info on it through an email to the developer. A later email revealed there had been a bit of a wobble and it looked as if the operator was pulling out for a time then things were supposedly resolved. I don't know where things stand atm, but I have my doubts. We shouldn't be too concerned by this anyway, we have lots of other stuff to get excited about!!!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6136/5934199348_d7c248d09e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnoram/5934199348/)
Pontoon - 13 July 2011 (7) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnoram/5934199348/) by John Oram (http://www.flickr.com/people/johnoram/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/5933642907_24b08817a0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnoram/5933642907/)
Pontoon - 13 July 2011 (2) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnoram/5933642907/) by John Oram (http://www.flickr.com/people/johnoram/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6020/5934202020_a6c1ff8364_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnoram/5934202020/)
Pontoon - 13 July 2011 (4) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnoram/5934202020/) by John Oram (http://www.flickr.com/people/johnoram/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/5934199932_54e919a654_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnoram/5934199932/)
Pontoon - 13 July 2011 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnoram/5934199932/) by John Oram (http://www.flickr.com/people/johnoram/), on Flickr

Glad they finally have the new pontoon, the old one felt as if it was falling apart, it felt to be perfectly honest much like Gosport. But no, it looks good.

New Morrisons supermarket on its way to Portsmouth city centre
By Joe Nimmo
Published on Thursday 21 July 2011 07:58

PORTSMOUTH will get a new city centre Morrisons superstore, it was announced today.

The supermarket chain has revealed it plans to build a 30,000 sq ft development in the city’s Victory Retail Park.

It believes the new store will create as many as 300 new jobs.

The land was originally bought by furnishings giant IKEA as part of the planned regeneration of Tipner, but sat empty following the recession.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/east-hampshire/new_morrisons_supermarket_on_its_way_to_portsmouth_city_centre_1_2884149

Maybe this will force Tesco to sort out the Arundel St./Commercial Rd. Store, could fit a decent development on that site.

Maybe this will force Tesco to sort out the Arundel St./Commercial Rd. Store, could fit a decent development on that site.

Morrisons are getting quite aggressive with there retail policy's, if you look at the southampton and area thread you can see that they are building a flagship store in southampton, I think this in general though is a good thing to challenge the triopoly of the Tesco-Asda-Sainsbury's brands in many cities and town's

Gunwharf in line for expansion as tower block sold

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimage/the_view_from_the_top_of_ad_1_1_2902056!image/1002536757.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_595/1002536757.jpg
By Joe Nimmo
Published on Tuesday 26 July 2011 13:02

GUNWHARF Quays is set to grow amid multi-million pound deals to develop two neighbouring tower blocks.

Soon The Hard in Portsmouth could see hotels, homes and offices in the place of the two eyesore buildings as part of a major redevelopment of the area.

The company which owns Gunwharf Quays – retail property giant Land Securities – has snapped up Europa House, the former headquarters of Pall Europe.

City leaders have described the £3.25m deal to buy the 18-storey office block as ‘great news for the city’.

And The News can exclusively reveal that the sale of neighbouring Brunel House is also being negotiated, with the long-empty tower block now facing demolition. Gunwharf’s centre director Peter Emery said it was still too early to say what Europa House would become.

But he said Gunwharf had ‘embraced’ the redevelopment plan and was currently ‘exploring options’ for possible future uses for the building.

He told The News: ‘A feasibility study is being carried out to examine different options. I am excited about the future but we are not at the stage yet where a final decision can be taken.’

Mr Emery added that plans to expand Gunwharf Quays were a key part of the overall regeneration of Portsmouth’s waterfront – which could include a revamped ferry and bus station and even a walkway connecting the shopping centre to the historic dockyard.

He said: ‘We already have a very successful Gunwharf Quays that attracts millions of people into the city and employs hundreds of local people and a very successful dockyard which is a tourist destination in its own right. It makes sense to join them up.’

Leslie Zucker is director of property firm City Estates which is managing the sale of Brunel House and the surrounding buildings to a currently unnamed company.

He said: ‘It will probably be a mix of uses, some homes and office space, and probably a hotel.

‘Negotiations are now moving along well.’

The Portsmouth City councillor in charge of planning, regeneration and economic development Mike Hancock said both sales would be fantastic news for the city.

He said: ‘The Europa House deal means Pall is moving to the Raymarine building in North Harbour and choosing to stay in the city, leaving the tower block with the possibility of becoming a great many things. The interest in both buildings just shows that people have real confidence in this city.'

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/east-hampshire/gunwharf_in_line_for_expansion_as_tower_block_sold_1_2902057

:banana::banana::banana:

Thought I'd post this from PCC's Hard Special Planning Document;
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/regabc123/hard.png

If Land Securities have brought both Brunel House and Europa House (plot 3 and 5 on the map) I'd be surprised if they weren't looking to make further acquisitions before starting any development - at least plot 4 (at the time of the SPD split between three separate owners including PCC) and plot 6. The area is simply too run down to make development of small parcels of it a decent proposition for a developer like Land Securities. If they were to also buy up the council/housing association property either side of Hawke/Ship-Leopard Street they would have a site surrounding Powell Square big enough to provide a suitable successor to Gunwharf - Gunwharf 2 if you will - perfect for a mix of residential, hotel and office uses. They could even seek to develop the southern end of the bus station (plot 9) or air rights development over the bus and train stations. Who knows at this stage... very exciting news none the less.

On one hand this is good, but on another it's a shame employer seem to be leaving the city centre. Soon there will be as many people commuting out of the city as in.

Vision for the future of the historic seafront

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimage/04a_the_hard_montage_1_2900734!image/1394003937.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_595/1394003937.jpg
By Joe Nimmo and Aline Nassif
Published on Tuesday 26 July 2011 10:55

It’s only a vision at the moment. But this image shows what an exciting future could be in store for Portsmouth’s historic waterfront.

Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust has published a ‘masterplan’ of how Gunwharf Quays, the naval base and the Historic Dockyard could be redeveloped and joined together.

If the bold design becomes a reality, shoppers and visitors would be able to cross Portsmouth Harbour via a walkway connecting the dockyard to Gunwharf Quays.

A source close to the project suggested dozens of cruise liners would be able to berth at the dockyard so that international tourists could experience our maritime heritage before crossing the walkway to shop.

The News is also able to exclusively reveal details of funding bids for two major projects aimed at promoting business and industry which could be set up inside the dockyard.

The first is a Regional Growth Fund for an International Boatbuilding Training College and the second is a University of Portsmouth centre to support small start-up companies.

Peter Goodship is chief executive of the property trust and chairman of the City Development Group, which is one arm of the Portsmouth City Council-backed Shaping the Future project.

He says: ‘We would like to think that if this goes ahead we could rival some of the greatest harbours in the world.

‘We are aiming to create a waterfront where there is a rich mixture of places to learn, work, eat, visit and live. Our vision is of a vibrant destination which builds on the success of sites like Gunwharf Quays.’

New Walkway

One of the most striking and controversial features of the plan is a new walkway connecting the dockyard to Gunwharf Quays.

The bridge would run from behind Portsmouth Harbour station to the south west area of the naval base – which the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust believes is one area of MoD land that will come up for sale.

Trust chief executive Peter Goodship says the walkway is still very much in the planning stages, but could be funded by a mixture of government infrastructure grants and investments by developers.

He says: ‘Gunwharf attracts around eight million visits each year, so if we are going to redevelop the waterfront properly there needs to be a proper connection between the two sites.’

Peter says the Queen’s Harbour Master, Commander Nigel Hare, has expressed support for the idea. But he admits there are many details which still need to be worked out. ‘It is totally dependent on a number of other things happening,’ he says.

‘There will have to be a mechanism to raise and lower the bridge for boats and to allow HMS Warrior to be removed when it needs to go to dry dock.’

Leader of the council, Gerald Vernon-Jackson, suggests the plans might not be realistic in their current form.

He says: ‘Nobody’s talked to me about this, but from what I can see we need to have access in and out for boats to access the Hard. Another problem is that the navy hasn’t yet made a decision about what land it is releasing.’

Boatbuilding Academy

The home of the navy is in line for a school that will train youngsters to master the art of traditional boatbuilding and boat restoration.

Together with the regional growth fund bid for £1.3m, the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust has submitted a bid for more than £4.6m heritage funding for a Boatbuilding Academy in the dockyard’s 1930s Boathouse 4 building.

The academy, supported by the University of Southampton’s centre for maritime archaeology, shipbuilding village Buckler’s Hard and Highbury College, will offer a full-time 47-week traditional boatbuilding course for up to 80 students a year.

It will also provide a full-time engineering course for up to 20 students a year. These will both be run by the International Boatbuilding Training College.

Once set up, the academy and the University of Southampton would organise an exchange programme allowing students at each institution to experience a different learning environment and work on a greater variety of craft.

Buckler’s Hard, which has more than 100,000 visitors a year to its historic displays, has already offered to donate a substantial oak-framed workshop as the academy’s base.

There will be free public lectures in Boathouse 4 on aspects of traditional boatbuilding.

The new academy, which will be open to the public, will ensure there are sufficient skilled boat builders available to perform the ongoing conservation and maintenance of the Trust’s significant collection of small naval craft as well as every other heritage vessel in the UK.

Peter Goodship, the trust’s chief executive, said: ‘If there was ever to be a place that could host a centre of excellence for boatbuilding not just for the UK but also internationally, Portsmouth must be a top candidate.’

Europa House

Gunwharf Quays could expand after the purchase of the former Pall Europe headquarters.

As revealed on page 2, property giant Land Securities has announced it paid £3.25m for Europa House, though it has not yet released details of its plans for the 18-storey tower block.

The sale of the neighbouring Brunel House to an as-yet unnamed buyer is also close to completion, The News has learned.

‘Sell block’

A hub for entrepreneurial young businesses and companies needing a temporary boost and mentoring is being hailed as an opportunity to create thousands more jobs for the future.

The University of Portsmouth is excited about the possibility of a new ‘Sell Block’ centre in the dockyard’s Cell Block, which forms part of the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust’s £1.3m regional growth fund bid.

Up to 64 companies specialising in creative industries including architecture, fashion design and computer games development would make their home in the building and have access to expert training and guidance from the university as early as 2013.

Mark Baker, head of research and knowledge transfer services, says: ‘We are hoping to create a place for small companies to start up and with 1,000 graduates in creative industries I’m sure many of them will be among them.

‘We have so much creative talent in this city and foresee everything from computer games designers to architects being trained in the Sell Block.

‘They will be supported by larger established businesses who can provide training and mentoring programmes, in the hope of creating a flourishing creative sector in the city.’

He adds: ‘We will offer companies reduced rates to encourage them to give something back in the shape of apprenticeships or support. It is so exciting to have this developed at the heart of Portsmouth which has a huge footfall and will help raise aspiration.

‘The university will play to its strengths and will support new jobs and possibilities for the city.

‘Our history is incredibly important to us, but this is the future of this city and we have to invest in it.

‘We currently have some great companies in Portsmouth but we want to attract and encourage many more.’

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/lifestyle/tn2-saturday/a-weekend-with/vision_for_the_future_of_the_historic_seafront_1_2900736
:)

Some great ideas there! Cant wait to hear more about these schemes and to find out whats going to be done to Brunel house in particular - its such a great location and yet has struggled to sell for years!

Vision for the future of the historic seafront
:)


Its good that they are finally thinking seriously about sorting out the Hard but I can’t help but feel a little underwhelmed by the vision as proposed.

There is no question that this stretch of the harbour side presents an enormous opportunity to the city but the scheme as proposed seems to solve a problem we didn’t really know we had (taking 90 seconds off the walk between Gunwharf and the historic dockyard) whilst largely ignoring the main problems facing the area (a motley assortment of poor quality buildings together with the presence of traffic and a ruddy great bus station spoiling what is a potential dream spot for tourists and residents alike).

Rather than wasting hundreds and hundreds of thousands building a boardwalk no one really needs, why not instead pedestrianise and redevelop the whole stretch? Move the bus station over to the Brunel House site and throw in a station pick up and set down point there too. Then build a link road between Victory way and the Queen street end of Havant Street and redevelop everything harbour side of the link road. You could conceivably even develop over the top of any such link road if the thinking on the part of the planners was sufficiently joined up.

The harbour side stretch would instantly become hugely pleasant in its own right. Uninterrupted views of the harbour and HMS Warrior (free from traffic noise too) would see decent eating and drinking establishments falling over themselves to open. There would be room for reams of outside seating, not to mention a seamless pedestrian route between the dockyard and railway arch entrance to Gunwharf. It could become the closest thing Portsmouth would possess to a European style piazza.

The area between the harbour side facade and the link road could be another generic mixed use waterside development meeting the housing, shopping and office space needs of the area. The only bit of the scheme that would require any serious quality design work (unless we are thinking high rise) would be coming up with a new harbour side facade worthy of the location, but frankly anything is an improvement on the current buildings.

Throw in a mini Marina and cruise ship berths as planned, tart up Portsmouth Harbour Station a little and redevelop the interface of the historic dockyard and hard and suddenly you have a plan that is much worthier of the area’s potential and, dare I say it, probably not much less deliverable.

^Bravo Sir, couldn't agree more!

Fire officer says tower sprinklers will save lives
Published on Thursday 4 August 2011 16:19

A SENIOR fire officer says lives will be put in danger if sprinklers are not fitted to Portsmouth’s newest landmark building.

Hampshire’s firefighters say the refusal to install sprinklers in the ‘Blade’ building being built at Victoria Park, central Portsmouth, is of grave concern.

The county’s fire chiefs called an emergency meeting with the building’s developer and owner, Watkin Jones, held behind closed doors on Tuesday afternoon, in a last-ditch attempt to convince them to install the safety devices. But the firm is still refusing to follow the fire service’s requests.

The force’s deputy chief officer, Dave Curry, said: ‘We don’t believe this building should be built without sprinklers. It will put lives in danger, residents and firefighters alike.

‘We have recent experience of the loss of life which can be caused to fire officers dealing with fires in high-rise buildings.

‘Our aim is to make people’s lives safer and that includes our officers and residents. The company has refused to install sprinklers. We will continue to try to convince them it should not be without sprinklers.’

The 330ft, 33-storey ‘blade’ will be leased to Portsmouth University, as a students’ hall of residence.

It will house 600 students.

But the law says as a student hall, the £30m development is exempt from having to contain sprinklers, which would cost Watkin Jones up to an estimated £400,000 to install.

Mr Curry said: ‘When the fire safety regulations were first put in place, most student halls were halls in which people lived. People never envisaged these buildings as 33 storeys high, in city centres. A fire at 32 storeys would be very dangerous. Sprinklers are needed, as they would be for a block of flats, to reduce that. They help to contain fires, ensuring small ones stay small.’

He confirmed the building will be a central point of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and other brigades’ attempts to have the law changed.

He said: ‘We’ll lobby for the rules to be re-examined by chief fire officers, who can take it to the government.’

Ronnie King, vice chairman of the National Fire Sprinkler Network, said stronger measures could be taken. He said: ‘This is potentially horrific. It’s a major accident waiting to happen. A court of law should rule on whether sprinklers are needed here.’

But Watkin Jones said it complied with national fire regulations in its designs, which include fire-detection and alarm systems, and a fire-fighting staircase, lift, ventilated lobby and wet risers.

Project manager Paul Gillespie, said: ‘Our design meets all national requirements and standards.’

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/east-hampshire/fire_officer_says_tower_sprinklers_will_save_lives_1_2932987

:ohno:

A small advert in "the NEWS" says there is going to be an exhibition to show the proposals for the development of Theatre Royal and student accommodation for the University of Portsmouth in the foyer of the theatre. It will be open on the 9th of August 10:00 - 7:30 and 10th of August 10:00 - 4:00.

The advert features a small picture of the development but i cant see it anywhere on the website.

A small advert in "the NEWS" says there is going to be an exhibition to show the proposals for the development of Theatre Royal and student accommodation for the University of Portsmouth in the foyer of the theatre. It will be open on the 9th of August 10:00 - 7:30 and 10th of August 10:00 - 4:00.

The advert features a small picture of the development but i cant see it anywhere on the website.

Here is the link - http://www.newtheatreroyal.com/index.php/recent-news/development-exhibition

Development Exhibition

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WZUfjLove4g/TjxHRejv0uI/AAAAAAAAAD0/3AyELdLlgFg/Development-Exhibition.jpg

An exhibition is to be held to demonstrate the preliminary proposals for a development comprising of an extension to the New Theatre Royal and new academic facilities and student accommodation for the University of Portsmouth.
The exhibition will be open on:
Tuesday 9 August from 10am to 7.30pm
Wednesday 10 August from 10am to 4pm
In the foyer of the New Theatre Royal, Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth, PO1 2DD
Representatives of the New Theatre Royal, the University of Portsmouth and their partner developer/contractor will be present to explain the proposals and answer any questions.

Hmm, not sure what i think of that, probably a bit too high so close to the guildhall? Possibly really crap cladding? Surprised they're trying to squeeze student accommodation onto this site.

The abandoned Savoy Building in Southsea is on fire ATM, possibly to do with the developer......
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/east-hampshire/fire_breaks_out_opposite_pier_1_2947396

I missed the exhibition :bash:. Though one thing I have noticed, The Blade appears to be 110m now?

Where have you seen that?

So sad the Savoy Court building is being demolished, Strong Island has done a great little piece on it; http://www.strong-island.co.uk/2011/08/10/final-death-of-the-savoy/

http://www.strong-island.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Savoy.jpg

http://www.strong-island.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Joannas-Club-Fire-Southsea-beach-71-500x333.jpg

http://www.strong-island.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG-20110810-00050-500x375.jpg

It was on purpose I swear. It is obvious!

I read it on the news article regarding the sprinklers. Linking to credible sources too, to be fair I don't think it is 101m or 110m, I think it is somewhere in between. We shall see though.

Even if the owners didn't actually get someone to start if off they certainly did nothing to prevent it, the place was very badly secured. They were just waiting for the inevitable.

It seems there's gonna be a really big hole at what should be the buzzing epicenter of the seafront, the replacement better be f'in good that's for sure.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/6028339175_6f0227022f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnoram/6028339175/)
Death of a Landmark - 10 August 2011 (4) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnoram/6028339175/) by John Oram (http://www.flickr.com/people/johnoram/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/6028340905_d70170aa40_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnoram/6028340905/)
Death of a Landmark - 10 August 2011 (3) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnoram/6028340905/) by John Oram (http://www.flickr.com/people/johnoram/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/6028352089_93022a4a66_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnoram/6028352089/)
Death of a Landmark - 10 August 2011 (20M) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnoram/6028352089/) by John Oram (http://www.flickr.com/people/johnoram/), on Flickr

Redknapp is screwed. Everyone knows it. It conveniently burns down right in the height of the worst riots we have seen in our lifetime? Unfortunately for him, the Police put a stop to the Portsmouth rioters, pre-emptively arresting them before they started!

That's so sad too see,what a great building.:ohno:

Inconvenient and stubborn buildings on prime development land 'accidently' burn down all the time in Sheffield.

We never say 'it was no accident' out loud though. Watch your back, tonks! :shifty:

Portsmouth’s Blade Tower development will have sprinklers installed

By Rory O’Keeffe
Published on Monday 15 August 2011 12:38

AN iconic Portsmouth building will have sprinklers installed, after a meeting between Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and the building’s owners, Watkin Jones.

The developer called for the meeting after The News reported the fire service’s fears the £30m, 330ft building would be more dangerous without the safety feature.

They believe firefighters and residents would be at greater risk of death or injury should a fire break out in a building without sprinklers.

The fire service’s area safety manager Mick Crennell said: ‘The developer called for the meeting, and it was very positive. They told us they wanted to install the sprinklers and we were very happy to agree to that.’

The 33-storey building, which is being built at Victoria Park, central Portsmouth, will house 600 students.

It will be owned by Watkin Jones, but the University of Portsmouth will nominate the students to live there.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/politics/portsmouth_s_blade_tower_development_will_have_sprinklers_installed_1_2966167

:banana: excellent news, there will be no delays!

Just a quick pic of the inside of the new Gosport Ferry terminal;

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6045630046_82c0be05fd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/robbiekhan/6045630046/)
Gosport, August 2011 Sunrise 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/robbiekhan/6045630046/) by Robbie Khan (http://www.flickr.com/people/robbiekhan/), on Flickr

What is the sandbag for? Do the doors open dangerously wide? or rattle in the wind? I havn't been down there yet?

Hadn't noticed that, looks like its to stop the door opening the whole way, possibly because they don't need to and by doing so keeps the wind out? I'm pretty sure that they don't actually use that end of the pontoon very often, so maybe to do with that.

Really exciting video on the strong island exhibition and the future of the round tower. This is such a positive thing for the city.

28185050

11/00885/FUL
Construction of 4 - 11 storey extension comprising a
fly tower and back of house facilities for the theatre; a
performing arts centre for the University of
Portsmouth and a student halls of residence

Watkin Jones, NTR and UofP have teamed up for this project by Penoyre & Prasad;

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/regabc123/0245.png

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/regabc123/0345.png

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/regabc123/1345.png

Hmm, that looks alright. It'll make White Swan Road pretty dark though - it's already got James Watson Hall (12 floors) on one side, now it's going to have this 11-storey one on the other side! It'll block quite a few of the north-facing views from James Watson too, but it's certainly not a bad-looking building. It's a nice height and bulk without being too massive and overbearing and I like the mix of cladding with the old-style brick mixed with the more modern stuff. Not bad at all!

I love it all apart from the mass of brick on the curve. The curve is VERY sexy though. It'll all be in the finish!

There's a TV studio on the corner of the ground floor hence the blank wall.

With this and the Blade, Portsmouth should finally be able to accommodate 100% of halls applicants (currently it can accommodate about 2/3 of its applicants).

Hopefully all this will help pave the way for some of the older student accommodation buildings such as the large one behind the civic offices to be flattened as part of a wider scheme, we know the civic offices are coming to the end of their useful life.

Hopefully it should breathe some life into those streets, the beer garden for The Fleet is great and all but that little quadrant in general is dire!

Looks good, when they where doing the open day to present this, the architect was there and she seemed really enthusiastic about this, glad that it is most likely going to happen.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-15115014

Portsmouth's New Theatre Royal receives £1m

Portsmouth's New Theatre Royal has received a grant of almost £1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The funding will contribute towards the repair and restoration of the Grade II listed building which was damaged by fire in 1972.

The theatre's director Caroline Sharman said: "This is great news for those who worked tirelessly over 40 years to keep this beautiful theatre alive."

A new learning centre will be dedicated to late director Anthony Minghella.

His sister Gioia Minghella said: "A really vibrant cultural learning space will make a most fitting, living memorial to him, and especially in Portsmouth, where he himself was educated and spent so much of his youth".

The £939,900 grant will also be used in collaboration with the University of Portsmouth to improve the stage house, orchestra pit and offices.

The seating capacity will be increased from 500 to 695 to accommodate touring West End productions.

Continued from Liverpool thread:

Because if you live on the island, everything is cyclable and nearly everything is walkable. Where I lived till recently (temporarilly back at mums) I could walk to work, walk to uni, walk to friends, walk to pubs and clubs, walk to shopping, walk to beach, walk to parks, walk to cinema etc. Everything is close by and convenient with many 24 hour shops.

If you want to live in Suburbia, the four boroughs are on the mainland and are mainly normal suburbia.

When I think of Portsmouth I often think of it as being a city that's extremely claustrophobic. Does it have any space to expand or will it forever build on that little island?

It has some brownfield to expand into, and we have a huge vacant plot for a new Shopping Centre that got killed by the recession. Also, Gunwharf Quays is set to eat into the postwar area around the dockyard which can support a much higher density. It really doesn't feel claustrophobic, but I am used to it I guess.

as much as i don't like the football team, i like the way portsmouth is claustrophobic and busy. an entire city on an island with no hills. you could almost get away with removing cars if there was a transport system like the trolleybuses still in place. i also like the way it has no particular centre, instead several centres that do different jobs. it is also the perfect place to build upwards.

Nice appraisal ReadingG. It's funny actually, I often visit Reading to see some friends I went to Uni with and I always wonder how the hell Reading manages to be about 3 times the size of Portsmouth (they live in Woodley and it takes quite a while to get back into the centre). Portsmouth doesn't have a proper city centre no, something one of the Leeds forumers picked up on as a bad thing, but I like that, it makes you explore the city more. With the population density and polycentric setup Portsmouth could actually support an underground and manage to remove a lot of cars, the only problem is a lot of people commute from the mainland boroughs into the Dockyard. The Gosport Line under the harbour was supposed to solve a lot of this but Alistair Darling cancelled it and gave the money to London (it happens to the South too Liverpool forumers!! :bash:).

Plus we have one of the largest inner city parks in Europe, complete with a beach.

Nice appraisal ReadingG. It's funny actually, I often visit Reading to see some friends I went to Uni with and I always wonder how the hell Reading manages to be about 3 times the size of Portsmouth (they live in Woodley and it takes quite a while to get back into the centre). Portsmouth doesn't have a proper city centre no, something one of the Leeds forumers picked up on as a bad thing, but I like that, it makes you explore the city more. With the population density and polycentric setup Portsmouth could actually support an underground and manage to remove a lot of cars, the only problem is a lot of people commute from the mainland boroughs into the Dockyard. The Gosport Line under the harbour was supposed to solve a lot of this but Alistair Darling cancelled it and gave the money to London (it happens to the South too Liverpool forumers!! :bash:).

Plus we have one of the largest inner city parks in Europe, complete with a beach.

Would Portsmouth need an underground since everything is in walking distance?

Yes, because walking it isn't always convenient. Walking 40 min - 1 hour to North End from Southsea (the names can give you a clue there) is pretty shit in the rain. Also the idea is to provide access to the Gosport Peninsula Sprawl by reusing the disused Gosport Line once the line would pass underneath the harbour. This was planned for Trams.

Look likes theres a potential devolopment opurtunity up for grabs, http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-28647304.html

Full description:

We are delighted to offer for sale one of the finest development sites available on the south coast of England today. With its rare and extremely close proximity to the sea, the future developed properties will enjoy magnificent, far reaching sea views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. We are able to offer 2 distinct and separate opportunities which would not have been available until a recent fire destroyed existing buildings that were due to be converted. The site, which is currently held on a single title (but which can readily be split), is offered as follows:- Savoy Buildings - This is the western part side of the site (approx.. 0.860 acres/ 0.348 hectares) upon which previous buildings have been demolished. It is now clear, level and all pre-commencement of development conditions have been satisfied. Development has lawfully commenced and this is now a shovel ready opportunity for developers. The site has full planning permission for 92 apartments and 415square meters of commercial space (shops/restaurants) on the ground floor. There is underground and some above ground parking (total 66 spaces for flats (inc. 7 disabled) and 4 spaces for commercial (inc. 2 disabled). Following a recent planning approval to vary the s.106 legal agreement, it was agreed by Portsmouth City Councils planning committee that there will be no affordable housing within this development. A financial contribution in lieu towards affordable housing must be made to Portsmouth City Council in sum of £600,000 upon recommencement of development of this site. The Seller is seeking offers in the region of £4m for this part of the site only. Savoy Court - This is eastern part of the site recently destroyed by fire. The site is in the process of being demolished. Previously, planning permission had been granted for conversion of the existing building to create 18 in no. 2 bedroom apartments with approx. 310sqm of commercial space on the ground floor (we had provisionally agreed a let to a leading convenience store operator) with a health suite in the basement. This planning permission no longer exists as it related to a conversion and therefore a new planning permission must be obtained. The Local Planning Authority (LPA) has said it will welcome a comprehensive scheme for the whole site or a fresh application for this part of the site only, to be developed alongside the consented scheme for Savoy Buildings. A hotel project is considered to be a highly feasible alternative to a mixed residential/commercial scheme and the LPA have indicated that they would welcome a planning application for the combined site. Please note that the Savoy Court element of the site is not being offered for sale on its own but can be sold together with Savoy Buildings. The Seller is inviting offers for the combined sites.

£20m revamp plan for Southsea’s South Parade Pier

Published on Tuesday 18 October 2011 13:49

RADICAL plans have been unveiled by the owners of South Parade Pier which show their vision for the future.

The proposed £20m redevelopment of Southsea’s most famous landmark has been met with ‘cautious optimism’ by city leaders.

The space-age concept drawings show a completely redesigned pier with two floors, a food hall and a large dome facing out to sea.

They were presented for the first time to residents at a meeting of East Southsea Neighbourhood Forum by businessman and property developer Fred Nash.

He told The News that the response to the plans – which were drawn up by the designers of the rebuilt Weston-super-Mare Grand Pier – had been overwhelmingly positive.


‘It’s still early days but so far we have had such a great response,’ he said.

‘It’s been 100 per cent positive.

‘We hope the pier could be really spectacular, but we want to do it right without any mistakes, so we need to hear what people think.

‘That’s why we wanted to show it to local people first and invite everyone to tell us their opinions.’

Mr Nash said a revamped pier with almost 5,500sq ft of floor space could have something for everyone.

His suggestions included a raised mezzanine restaurant looking out to sea for adults and new indoor rides for children.

He said: ‘We are looking for it to be covered over all the year round because – as we learned from the snow at Christmas – that is the only thing that would work here.

‘What I really want is a pier that appeals to young and old alike.

‘The designs are very modern and might not appeal to everyone’s tastes – but so far I have been bowled over by how much people like them.’

Mr Nash, whose company SPP South Coast Ltd owns the pier, added that although planning permission still needs to be obtained he thinks work could start within 18 months to two years.

Council seafront manager David Evans said he had met Mr Nash and the designers – Angus Meek Architects – and was pleased with the progress being made.

‘I would describe myself as cautiously optimistic as I always tend to be about large developments on the seafront,’ he said.

‘They have made some real improvements to infrastructure at the pier, such as air conditioning and central heating, in recent months.

‘There is also a new manager at the pier with a lot of experience in planning events.

‘The plans which have been drawn up look great but they are not going to become a reality overnight.

‘It will be a couple of years before we start to see progress.’

He added: ‘But just as the city council is investing in the seafront it will be wonderful to see Mr Nash investing in the pier.’

A holding company called Frenash Ltd was set up by Mr Nash when he and a consortium bought the pier last May.

Frenash was forced into liquidation by EDF Energy over a £21,270.43 bill, run up since the pier was bought from Cuerden Leisure, prompting fears the pier’s future was in jeopardy.

The running of the pier has since been transferred to SPP South Coast Ltd, registered to an address in Brighton.

Although funding for the massive project has not yet been secured, Mr Nash said he has already had interest from potential investors.

‘There is an American who is very into historical projects who has shown interest,’ he said.

‘I think we could do something really great here.

‘If you look at Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier it shows that if you have the right venue then people will come to it.

‘I wouldn’t be pressing ahead with this if I didn’t believe we could get the funding.

‘I believe we can do this and make it viable.

‘At Weston they spent £150,000 on a hall of mirrors and made it back in a weekend. That is the kind of potential we are talking about.’

Brenda Kidd, 70, of St Helens Parade, said she had been very impressed by the concept drawings and suggestions for the pier.

‘It is the most exciting thing I have seen in Portsmouth for a long time,’ she said. ‘I remember Portsmouth in its glory days and it’s really sad to see how tired and neglected parts of the seafront are looking.

‘This could be a welcome breath of fresh air.’

Angela Carpenter, 70, of Festing Grove, Southsea, said: ‘I would certainly be nice to have a restaurant on the pier.

‘The plans look amazing and I just hope they are put into practice.’

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/east-hampshire/20m_revamp_plan_for_southsea_s_south_parade_pier_1_3162907

Im not going to hold my breath on this one but fingers crossed!

Portsmouth Port unveils its 15-year master plan at event

By Emma Judd
Published on Friday 21 October 2011 07:41

A BLUEPRINT for the next 15 years of Portsmouth’s International Port has been unveiled.

The 35-page master plan was revealed yesterday when an international conference called Ports Adapting to Change was held in Portsmouth for the first time.

The report outlines the investment the port will be making to increase the number of ships which can use it.

It includes aims such as building a berth for cruise ships, and looks at how the port can react to changes in the future.

The plan also revealed that 1,595 jobs depend on the port’s presence in the city, and that it is worth around £71m to the local economy.

Port manager Martin Putman said the document was important in securing the council-owned port’s future and to tell every person living in the city about its plans.

He said: ‘The whole purpose of it is to inform the local stakeholders, like the local community, but also the planning bodies whose permission we’ll need to develop the port.’

The plan is designed to be flexible so it can meet changes in the future.

It discusses the possibility of a new cruise ship berth, which is not needed now but may be in the future.

Mr Putman said: ‘We’re not really at the stage of needing a dedicated cruise berth at the moment, but if in the future we were to get more ferries in, for example, we’d have to displace the cruise ships in favour of the ferries.’

The document is available to view on the port’s website, at portsmouth-port.co.uk.

The day-long conference at the Guildhall yesterday, saw senior managers from seven Channel and southern North Sea ports gather together.

Some of the delegates were able to visit the port’s new terminal building during their visit.

The idea of the event was that the ports share their ideas and ways of working.

Mr Putman added: ‘It’s the first big event like this we’ve had here, and it’s very important because we have visited other events in other countries and we are now playing our part.’
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/east-hampshire/portsmouth_port_unveils_its_15_year_master_plan_at_event_1_3173764

:)

According to http://www.numberoneportsmouth.co.uk/ planning consent has now been granted, does anyone know whats going on?

Was granted ages ago. We had word from the developers that there was a potential operator on board but this was well over a year ago now and there's been no news since.

Is there any way in getting contact with the developers to find out what's going on?

I previously emailed; robert.gamlen@robertgamlenhomes.com

Ah OK, how long ago did you email them? Would it be worth getting in contact to try and get an update?

Might be worth a try, I think i might have sent them a message in the spring and received no answer. Feel free to contact them via that address, its the contact point on there website.

On that subject I've just seen that on 28/11/11 they applied to renew the application;
11/01080/FULR | Application to renew planning permission 08/01723/FUL for construction of part 19-25 storey hotel (Class C1) (with two additional basement floors) up to 11038sqm of gross floorspace, and detached coffee bar (Class A3) up to 26sqm fronting Station Street | 8 Surrey Street Portsmouth PO1 1AZ

The original application was approved on Jan 6th 2009. So I'm guessing it had a three year expiration date.

The redevelopment of the theatre royal has been granted planning permission.

The Uni have got a lot of development ready to go with the CCI building, the theater and The Blade. Wish one of them would get off the drawing board and start construction.

The Somerstown Community Hub has been granted permission, due to begin next summer apparently;
http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2011/11/11/bam-to-start-on-10-4m-portsmouth-centre/?

Historic Dockyard wins £1.4m grant for new attraction in Portsmouth

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimage/jpns_22_11_11_016_heritage_lottery_fund_1_3268688!image/3097036080.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_595/3097036080.jpg

By Michael Powell
Published on Tuesday 22 November 2011 00:01

THE National Museum of the Royal Navy has scooped a £1.4m lottery grant.

The museum at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard said today’s cash boost from the Heritage Lottery Fund means curators have now raised £3.2m out of the £4.5m they need for the one-of-a-kind attraction focusing on the Royal Navy since 1900.

The latest heritage project comes as Portsmouth’s HMS Victory is undergoing a 10-year £20m renovation and the Mary Rose is being moved into a new £21m museum.

The £1.4m grant will be used to restore the 18th century-built Storehouse 10 to house the new exhibitions.

‘There is no time to lose,’ said the museum’s director-general Dr Dominic Tweddle, who wants to raise the outstanding £1.3m to open the new attraction by 2014 – the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

He added: ‘Despite the remarkable achievements of the men and women of the senior service over the past 100 years, there is no single exhibition in this country that tells their story.

‘We can now put that right – and do so here in Portsmouth, the home of the navy.’

The museum’s project director Matthew Sheldon said the new project will have a strong focus on the stories of sailors who lived through the last century.

He said: ‘The navy has faced unprecedented changes and challenges since 1900.

‘We want these exhibitions to convey this through the real things and the real voices of the men and women who lived, worked and fought to create this history.

‘The new galleries will feature amazing stories of how past generations faced these challenges and also look forward to what the navy faces now and might face in the future.’

Stuart McLeod, the head of Heritage Lottery Fund for the South East said the grant will help boost tourism further in Portsmouth.

He added: ‘This project has the potential to entertain, intrigue and delight.

‘Maritime and particularly naval heritage in the 20th and 21st centuries is currently under-represented in our museums, and this award to the NMRN in Portsmouth will help to address that.’

More money for Portsmouth museums :) Done very well out of the lottery in recent years.

The Uni have got a lot of development ready to go with the CCI building, the theater and The Blade. Wish one of them would get off the drawing board and start construction.
The last performance in the New Theatre Royal appears to be on the 17th of December, so I expect it will close at the end of the year, allowing the development to begin construction. Still asking around for information on the Blade and regularly checking the site, so I'll (try to) keep everyone up to date on that too.

The last performance in the New Theatre Royal appears to be on the 17th of December, so I expect it will close at the end of the year, allowing the development to begin construction. Still asking around for information on the Blade and regularly checking the site, so I'll (try to) keep everyone up to date on that too.

Good news, the Guildhall walk really needs this sort of investment. Hopefully a more lively theater might help the street to move away from its current crap pub and club offer and violent reputation, although that's unlikely to happen in the short term.

The Tipner M275 junction has been included in the Treasury's National Infrastructure Plan 2011 (http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/national_infrastructure_plan291111.pdf) although what that means in terms of timescales and actual money is anyone's guess.

That's good to know, about time the Tipner Development got underway. I wonder if they will leave provision (space) for the Monorail if that ever happens?

Revamping Portsmouth’s gateway will ‘boost whole region’

By Joe Nimmo
Published on Thursday 8 December 2011 07:20

THE regeneration of the gateway to Portsmouth would provide a boost to the entire region, says Portsmouth MP Mike Hancock.

Proposals for the long-awaited clean-up and development of Tipner include more than 600 homes, a new motorway junction and the decontamination of a large area of toxic land.

When eventually completed, Portsmouth City Council hopes the regeneration will also provide 25,000sq ft of business space, 1,500 new jobs, waterside open spaces, a park and ride and a hotel.

The council’s head of economic regeneration and MP for Portsmouth South, Cllr Hancock, pictured right, said there should be no obstacles stopping the council approving the scheme.

‘It will be a great sigh of relief,’ he said.

‘To get the road network sorted and then get these planning applications agreed will be wonderful.

‘And it couldn’t have come at a better time for the city.

‘If we can get this agreed we can start the huge job of cleaning up the site, which is of vital importance to the city.

‘The project will create several thousand jobs in the construction industry and in businesses when it is finished.

‘We will also get a good housing development with a fair amount of social housing.’

He added that there will also be a new sewer going across the site which will solve long-standing problems in the city.

‘This development won’t just benefit Portsmouth, it will give a boost to the entire region and open up the city to fantastic new opportunities,’ added Mr Hancock.

As reported in The News the government has already agreed to fund a £30m new junction on the M275.

The rest of the redevelopment is expected to cost around £130m and this will be funded by the council, the government’s Homes and Communities Agency and the Tipner Regeneration Company.

Donna Jones, opposition spokeswoman for economic redevelopment and member of the planning committee, said everyone on the council wanted to see the plans – to be debated at a meeting today – become a reality.

‘If it goes ahead this project will be a first for the south of England,’ she said.

‘It is absolutely what the city needs going forward, we just need to make sure it is being done properly, although so far the officers involved have proved to be on top of everything.’

She added: ‘We just need to make sure we take into account how much the clean-up could impact on the lives of people living nearby.’

UNDER CONSIDERATION

Today Portsmouth City Council’s planning committee is expected to approve three major planning applications to improve the north west of the city.

The first was submitted by the Tipner Regeneration Company (TRC) in December last year.

This will allow for the construction of 518 homes, a combined heat and power plant, a sea wall and a coastal path on the site of Pounds Scrapyard and the closed Greyhound Stadium.

The second was put in by the government’s Homes and Communities Agency and the council itself and is for 80 homes on the PD Fuels site to the north of Stamshaw Junior School.

The same two groups have also applied to clean up the area in a massive decontamination programme of Tipner’s toxic land.

These applications all concern the east side of Tipner. The council eventually plans to build a further 600 homes on the west side.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/east-hampshire/revamping_portsmouth_s_gateway_will_boost_whole_region_1_3317914

:)

Took some poor quality iPod pics of the Mary Rose Ship Hall today, didn't have my camera with me.

http://i44.tinypic.com/24b2lqp.jpg
(Please excuse the Reflection, that is however the Poop Deck of HMS Victory...)

http://i44.tinypic.com/iwug44.jpg

The finish is very high quality, it reminds me of a Theme Park ride (in a good way). Can't wait till it opens!

And a Bonus pic of some Type 45. There were another 2 to the left too.

http://i42.tinypic.com/5l8gw2.jpg
(The Captcha Word on tinypic was Union Jack which I found quite appropriate!)

See what you mean about a theme park, not convinced that's a good thing although need to see it in person to judge.

Might Go See It as Well

Promising news about the Blade and the Tipner Regeneration, among other things:

Looking forward to a memorable year
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/politics/looking_forward_to_a_memorable_year_1_3380410

The economy maybe struggling, but 2012 promises to be a special year when it comes to celebrating and marking milestones across our area.
With the Olympics taking place just an hour or so down the road, Charles Dickens turning 200 years old, and the Queen reaching an incredible 60 years on the throne, there are reasons to celebrate.

Two long-overlooked areas – Rowner in Gosport and Tipner in Portsmouth – are finally getting the multi-million pound regeneration they deserve.
And there will be iconic architectural marvels that will help to put the area on the map.
The state-of-the-art Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is set to open in the autumn while the University of Portsmouth’s visionary Blade tower hall of residence will begin to rise above the city skyline.

We will be taking to the sea and air in two brand-new events – Portsmouth Air Festival and Ribex 2012 – featuring display teams flying over head and boats gathering at Gunwharf Quays to delight spectators.
Not to mention the return of a host of much-loved festivals.
There will be the Portsmouth Festivities, Portsmouth Kite Festival, Portsmouth BookFest, SouthseaFest music festival, Portsmouth Multicultural Festival and Portsmouth Music Festival.

And there will also be a time to reflect on the past, when sailors and veterans remember those lost during the Falklands War 30 years ago.

The News will also help boost the local economy this year.
Together with the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership we have successfully bid for £2.1m of funding from the government’s Regional Growth Fund.
This money will help small and medium-sized businesses grow and cope with tough financial times when we invite them to submit their bids early this year.
Editor of The News, Mark Waldron, said: ‘There can be no doubt that 2012 is shaping up to be an incredibly exciting year for our area.
‘With spectacular new events, huge national occasions and important opportunities for local growth and development, there really will be something for everyone.’

Twelve reasons which will help make 2012 a special year

DICKENS

Next year Portsmouth will join the national celebrations marking 200 years since Charles Dickens was born.
The great author’s birthplace is set to take centre stage on February 7 when the city will hold its traditional wreath-laying ceremony in the morning followed by a service of thanksgiving at St Mary’s, the church where Dickens was baptised.
During the day the BBC Big Screen in Guildhall Square will show Dickens films, while in the evening the New Theatre Royal will host a performance by one of the country’s most respected interpreters of the writer’s work, Simon Callow.
At the heart of Dickens 2012 will be A Tale of One City – the Charles Dickens community archive project which was started following a successful Heritage Lottery fund application in autumn 2010.
An exhibition of the collected material will be held at the City Museum starting in February, alongside items from Portsmouth’s collections and pages from the original manuscript of Nicholas Nickleby.
The project will also see new life breathed into the city’s Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum itself, including costumed guides, readers and improved educational facilities.
Actor Al Muir is even working with groups across the city to develop a community play based on Dickens.

FESTIVITIES

Portsmouth's festival scene has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years and 2012 promises to be the best yet.
From June 22 to July 1 the ever-popular Portsmouth Festivities will stage Great Expectations – a cultural, musical and spectacular tribute to the city’s most famous 200-year-old.
Then in August the Portsmouth Kite Festival will be hoping to build on the huge success of last year’s three-day event on Southsea Common, featuring an amazing range of kite displays, in all shapes and sizes.
Now in its third year, the winter will see the Portsmouth BookFest bring yet more world-famous authors to the city to promote literacy and reading. Those that come will be following in the footsteps of Jaqueline Wilson, Claire Tomalin, Chris Ryan and Mark Billigham.
On Saturday September 12 the city’s popular one-day music festival – SouthseaFest – will return with a host of up-and-coming and established bands that promise to pack Portsmouth’s favourite venues.
September is a busy month when it comes to events, with the Portsmouth Multicultural Festival on Southsea’s Castle Field bringing a massive range of international food, music and art to the city.
The Isle of Wight Festival, which last year featured the Foo Fighters, pictured above, will take place in May.
And last but not least the 2012 Portsmouth Music Festival will be introducing an Olympic theme for their 80th year. Organisers have also decided to mark the occasion by holding their final concert in the Kings Theatre on Sunday March 25.

QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE

Portsmouth is set to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in spectacular style next year with a host of exciting events.
A lavish public party will be held in Guildhall Square to coincide with television coverage of the national event on the BBC big screen.
The council will provide 60 tables and chairs for 500 people, with capacity for others to sit on the steps of the Guildhall or use their own chairs around the square.
Beacons will also be lit at Southsea Castle and Portsdown Hill as part of a celebratory nationwide chain.
They are among 2,012 beacons which will be lit by communities and individuals from Land’s End to Buckingham Palace.
And roads across the city will have the chance to host their own free street parties like during last year’s royal wedding.
The council has set aside £15,000 to pay for the festivities on Sunday June 3, 2012.
In total 27 street parties were held in Portsmouth on the day of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, and so far the council has had 19 enquires regarding Diamond Jubilee events.
Anyone who wants to hold a party next year can apply for permission unless they live on a road which is also a main bus route.

MARY ROSE

This year will see the opening of the state-of-the-art Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
The new £35m museum is set to be ready for autumn 2012 – 30 years after the ship was raised from the sea bed.
It has been designed by architects Wilkinson Eyre – best known for the Millennium Bridge over the River Tyne in Newcastle.
Thousands of Tudor artefacts that sank in 1545 will be on display.

ROWNER

The regeneration of the Rowner estate is set to continue in 2012.
The £145m project will transform the estate in Gosport, delivering around 700 affordable and private homes.
Phase one of the project is set to reach completion in the summer when around 200 homes are expected to be ready to move into.
The second phase is already underway and features a Tesco supermarket opening during the winter.

TIPNER

Plans for the long-awaited clean-up and development of the east side of Tipner will become a reality in 2012.
The £130m project will include more than 600 homes, a new motorway junction and the decontamination of a large area of toxic land.
When finished the whole project will also provide 25,000sq ft of business space, 1,500 new jobs, waterside open spaces, a park and ride and a hotel.

THE BLADE

The striking appearance of the Blade tower will rise above the Portsmouth skyline this year.
Standing more than 300ft tall, with 33 storeys, the new university student hall of residence will dwarf the surrounding buildings and an academic building is planned to be built next to it.
Clearing the Victoria Park site began in September and is due to continue throughout 2012, with the building ready for September 2013

AIR FESTIVAL

Portsmouth's Air Festival will wow crowds when it hits Southsea this summer.
Seven hours of flying displays will feature the world’s only aerobatic formation wingwalking team, the Breitling Wingwalkers, who are lined up to star at the event, along with an old Royal Navy Sea Vixen and Spitfires.
Organisers are also hoping to add the RAF’s Red Arrows and the day is set to end with a pop concert.

FALKLANDS

This year will also see events to mark 30 years since the end of the Falklands War.
Hundreds will gather for a special Falklands parade and memorial service in Old Portsmouth on Sunday, June 10.
In Gosport there will be various events including a concert and a veterans freedom of the borough parade through the town, to the Falklands Gardens, for a memorial service on Sunday May 27.

BOAT SHOW

This May will see Portsmouth take the plunge and host a prestigious boat show for the first time.
The Ribex show, the world’s only boat show dedicated solely to rigid inflatable boats, is moving to Gunwharf Quays from its current home in Cowes.
It’s been heralded as the first step on a path for Portsmouth to host a major international boat show, more usually seen in Southampton.

OLYMPICS

The whole region is set to catch Olympic fever this summer and stage a range of events.
Portsmouth will take part in a 12-week nationwide celebration running from June 21 until September 9, which will involve dance, music, theatre, visual arts and film. The Olympic torch will also blaze through Fareham and Gosport on its way to Portsmouth as part of the London 2012 Olympic torch relay route.

CASH BOOST

The News has teamed up with business leaders and won a £2.1m grant to help create jobs and boost the south Hampshire economy.
The government’s Regional Growth Fund awarded the money following a successful News-backed bid by the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). Bidding begins in the new year in the hope the money will help create at least 200 jobs.

___________________________

Here's to a fantastic year for the city of Portsmouth. :cheers:

Portsmouth’s entrance to be transformed by coloured lights
UPGRADE The Sails of the South and the M275

WORK will soon begin at Tipner Bridge to transform the entrance into Portsmouth.

New coloured lights will be put in along the bridge to replace the now-defunct white lights that currently stand there.

It is hoped this will create an impressive entrance for visitors and residents.

The city’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, Councillor Lee Hunt, said: ‘This will ensure the entrance to the city is smart and the best it can be, which is so important with more and more people coming to see us.’

While the works take place, there will be lane closures on the M275.

On Monday and Tuesday the inside lane northbound will be closed from 9.30am to 3.30pm while some of the work is carried out.

On Wednesday and Thursday the inside lane southbound will be closed overnight from 9pm to 5.30am.

Nice Little News Article about Tipner, this project really seems to be going ahead now,
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/transport/portsmouth_s_entrance_to_be_transformed_by_coloured_lights_1_3396544

Clearing the Victoria Park site began in September and is due to continue throughout 2012, with the building ready for September 2013


I really don't see how, even if they started construction tomorrow, this can be a realistic completion date anymore. I think they are referring to the original planned date but things must have changed.

Is there still no construction work going on there?

Sadly not, still no word as to what the hold up is. Which makes the news' copy and paste reporting quite annoying, could they not make a few calls to find out whats actually going on?

Northern Quarter developer given new extension

By Joe Nimmo
Published on Wednesday 11 January 2012 13:26

LONG-DELAYED plans to regenerate Portsmouth’s Northern Quarter could be put back by more than 12 months.

But as more details of the proposals put forward by developer Centros were released, the city council’s director of planning Kathy Wadsworth insisted the multi-million pound project would be completed on schedule.

The £500m shopping, housing and business scheme was shelved in 2008 as the recession began to bite, but a new timeline was agreed in 2010 with work set to begin before the end of 2015.

Now Portsmouth City Council has agreed to a request from Centros to allow an extra 12 to 21 months if necessary, potentially delaying the start of building work until 2017.

The council said this is because the current programme does not contain any ‘slack’ to allow for delays outside the control of the developer.

Mrs Wadsworth said: ‘Our target was to open in September 2018 and I fully expect that to be met.

‘We are meeting Centros twice a month and can see how much work they are doing. This is now their number one scheme.’

But leader of the council’s Conservative opposition, Simon Bosher, said the whole process was taking far too long.

‘This has been dragging along since I became a councillor,’ he said. ‘The way things look my children will be lucky to use these shops.

‘It is extremely frustrating and disappointing that we are just letting Centros dictate whatever terms they like.’

Council leader, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said he hoped the deadline extension wouldn’t be necessary.

He said: ‘They are asking the council to put a lot of money into redoing the road network so they really need to get their fingers out.

‘The Christmas retail results were worrying and the truth is it isn’t a good time to be building shopping centres.’

Cllr Vernon-Jackson added that of the two schemes Centros had been working on, the developer had opted for the smaller of the two.

He said: ‘The issue is one of quality. If we get a smaller scheme with a really good anchor then that is exactly what Commercial Road needs.’

Shopping list

The proposals put forward by developer Centros for the Northern Quarter contain:

· 47 shops

· Five medium sized units

· One huge anchor store, believed to be either a Marks & Spencers or John Lewis

· 44,000sq m retail floor space

· 5,000 sq m leisure floor space

· More than 1,000 homes

Rejected was a larger plan that included two huge anchor stores, more floor space and more shops, but the same number of homes.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/east-hampshire/northern_quarter_developer_given_new_extension_1_3407874

Not exactly fantastic news.

Interesting news about the Queens Hotel in Southsea

Buyer sought in plan to transform landmark Southsea hotel

A DEVELOPER is being sought to turn part of the landmark Queen’s Hotel and the land around it into flats.

Final consent is due over the next few days for an ambitious plan which would see the upper storeys of the seafront hotel, which have been unused since the 1960s, sold off and turned into 30 private apartments.

The buyer would also take on land around the hotel with permission to build two blocks of affordable flats and more private apartments.

The hotel would become a much smaller 22-bedroom facility on the ground and first floor with newly-refurbished bedrooms and facilities.

The scheme was first revealed in 2008 but has only now got to the final stages of the planning process.

Vail Williams commercial property agent has been asked to market the building and the land.

A survey in 2005 concluded the hotel was worth around £2m, compared with an estimated £5m bill to refurbish it.

Chris Cave, partner at Vail Williams, said: ‘The planning consent is for the ground floor and first floor of the hotel to be refurbished and kept as a boutique hotel.

‘We are expecting to get the final letter of planning approval imminently.

‘Next door to the hotel, on the right-hand side, will be 30 affordable flats, and in front of that, on the seaward side, there will be a block of 38 private apartments.’

The hotel is owned by the Manning family, who also own Clarence Parade Pier.

The second phase of planning, to build the block of 38 apartments, attracted objections from neighbours and the Portsmouth Society.

John Holland, one of its committee members, wrote to Portsmouth City Council saying: ‘We feel the proposed building is too tall for the site and will block views of the Queen’s Hotel from Southsea Common.’

The society also said its design was not in keeping with neighbouring Georgian and Edwardian properties.

But the plans were changed in the middle of last year to address some of the concerns.

The Portsmouth Society did not object to plans to refurbish the Queen’s Hotel itself.

The hotel estimates that once a developer buys the hotel and land, the work should take 18 months to finish.

The Queen’s Hotel was first known as Southsea House, and was a large home owned by Sir John and Lady Morris. It was destroyed in a fire in 1901, and rebuilt in 1903. Around 30 full and 50 part-time staff work at the hotel, which is in a conservation area but is not listed.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/east-hampshire/buyer_sought_in_plan_to_transform_landmark_southsea_hotel_1_3464175

A bit of news about Number One Portsmouth!

Might as well draw attention to this post - so, I have some promising news for you all! I emailed Robert Gamlen yesterday to ask about the progress of the Number One Portsmouth hotel. I mentioned that I was a 2nd year Civil Engineering student looking into Portsmouth's ongoing development and was wondering about the status of the hotel.

I received a response today:

Richard,

I was originally funded by RBS but they decided that due to the credit crunch they did not want to be involved. I therefore had to refinance it with a American Bank and this has now been completed but took quite a long time.

Rezidor the parent company that runs the Radisson Blu brand are the most likely operator but others are interested. I am in the middle of negotiating a build contract with one of the biggest contractors in order to get it built. The internal demolition has already started but we are currently held up by the gas board who are taking an age to remove a gas main before the major demolition machinery can be brought on site.

We have renewed the planning permission in December and hope to be building by the early summer.

I hope this helps

Robert Gamlen

:cheers:

Holy le'fuck. When you text me mate I expected Core action on The Blade or something.

That's very interesting news indeed. Would be an absolute boon for the city to finally get this and the Jury's Inn underway. Excellent work superman.

this is really great news :-)

From the most recent issue of the Portsmouth Uni student's newspaper (lengthy article so I just photographed it rather than copy it all out):

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss180/KingOfTheTitans/Portsmouth-20120204-00097.jpg?t=1328316096

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss180/KingOfTheTitans/Portsmouth-20120204-00098.jpg?t=1328316095

So once again, the sprinkler debate has held everything up, now they're questioning whether the building should have sprinklers after all...
Sky Plaza, Nido Spitalfields and 17 New Wakefield Street - all either U/C or completed, yet this one is on hold? Do these other buildings have sprinkers or not, was there an issue with any of the other similar-height student towers?
Just build the damn thing...

Sounds as if the viability of the whole thing is in doubt. Although there's really nothing new here. We knew the uni was planning to convert Mercantile house to accommodation it was reported here (http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2011/01/23/portsmouth-uni-seeks-firm-for-student-digs-job/?) last January, hopefully the hint that this is as an alternative to building the blade is just the reporter putting two and two together. The fact that Watkins removed their signs and the university is refusing to comment is definitely worrying tho...

Bad News, Oh well guess we will just have to wait and see, realistically though, even if it does go ahead September 2014 Is a much more likely finish date

Also wondering if the fall in applications associated with the tuition fee rise is also adding to the uni and developers caution. 9% nationally, don't know the situation with Portsmouth uni.

Nice attempt at rhyming...but no thanks.

Oops, meant to edit the last post...too late now.
Also wondering if the fall in applications associated with the tuition fee rise is also adding to the uni and developers caution. 9% nationally, don't know the situation with Portsmouth uni.
Yeah it's the same with Portsmouth. Also from the student newspaper:
"Applications for 2012 entry at the University of Portsmouth are nearly 26,000. This represents a drop of 9% on applications in 2011."

Somethings getting built at North Harbour...

Inchcape starts Portsmouth Porsche build

Inchcape has started construction on its new Porsche dealership in Portsmouth which is scheduled to open this summer.

The Portsmouth site on Western Road will be Inchcape’s second with Porsche, joining its showroom in Bournemouth.

The new site will occupy nearly two acres and will feature a 26 car showroom with roof-top parking, an eight ramp workshop and an MoT bay.

http://www.am-online.com/news/2012/2/7/inchcape-starts-portsmouth-porsche-build/30455/?

Just discovered that Architecture PLB have a new website (http://www.architectureplb.com/index.php) and found this lovely pic showing the blades potential impact on the skyline;

http://www.architectureplb.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2093_web.jpg

Its a whopper!

Finding the complete lack of info as to whats going on soooooooooo frustrating.

And found another interesting image, this time on the UofP site, of how the NTR extension would have looked before student accommodation was added to the scheme;

http://www.port.ac.uk/media/Media,112961,en.jpg

Cool, Thanks for the updates Pompey77

Shame its not; 'look at this big tower crane assemblage thingy in Victoria Park... oh and look there's another on Station Street...' Lets hope that can only be a matter of time... :yes:

Well it looks like the Station Street one could be starting in the summer, as you saw by the reply I received from the developers, I'm looking out for signs of demolition equipment every time I head up Commercial Road.
As for the Blade, the newspaper article pretty much got it - it's the sprinklers again, they're now unsure if it should have them included after all. Considering the amount of false fire alarms that go off in student halls of residence, it might cause quite a bit of damage if the sprinklers are working every time the alarm goes off. They certainly couldn't have them in the rooms with all the laptops etc, so they'd have to have them in the corridors only. I think that's the main reason for the hold-up, trying to find the best solution to the problem.

Dont mean to me stupid :-), but where exactly will Number 1 Portsmouth be if it is built, Is it in the car park or in the red brick royal mail building???

The abandoned warehouse on the other side of the carpark opposite the Royal Mail building. The Carpark is supposed to be built on at one point and a proper corner building should replace the old terraces that house Kens Kebabs.

Still no news on the blade tower?

Dont mean to me stupid :-), but where exactly will Number 1 Portsmouth be if it is built, Is it in the car park or in the red brick royal mail building???

Just here;
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/regabc123/site.jpg

When the Carpark and Corner building are done, I think Matalan should be redeveloped. This could be a really exciting urban quarter with one hell of a centrepiece.

Has potential that's for certain and whats been proposed for the area is top notch. Just wonder what sort of time frame were looking at to get it all done - 2050?

Find it odd there have been so many false starts with the McAleer & Rushe development of Zurich house. They have operators signed up for the hotel and serviced apartments in first phase whats the hold up! Its a fantastic building and its pretty sad to see the state its in.

It's the perfect location for Office development. Adjacent to a Railway Station with direct links to London in an hour and a half and with room for decent sized floorplates. You could even get an underground carpark on that site for the offices quite easilly. Might have to close platform 4 off during the excavation though.

Just here;
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/regabc123/site.jpg

Thanks Pompey77, :lol:

I was taking part in my favourite past time a few weeks ago and looking at maps. Do you think that the area could do with better pedestrian and cycle lanes/way-finding between the railway station, the centre and Gunwharf?

Certainly could. For a visitor its far from obvious how to get between Commercial Rd and Gunwharf, which is particularly unfortunate given its such a relatively short distance. I strongly suspect many people from outside the city who have occasionally visited Gunwharf have never ventured over to Commercial Rd. Admittedly there aren't many shops worth visiting there (The Northern Quarter should change this), but improving the links and encouraging more people to use both centres on a shopping trip is really important.

Unfortunately the most direct and simple route is cluttered by two big obstacles; The civic offices create a big visual barrier, and the UofP building at the end of King Henry I St. creates a physical one. Removing these buildings, particularly the UofP one, would make a big difference to the navigability of the City Centre.

Both of these issues have been identified by PCC, indeed there is somewhere a PCC photoshopped image of King Henry I St/Park Rd without the UofP building. They also planed to pedestrianize the lower end of commercial Rd/Edinburgh Rd which is currently used by buses and, as i know from experience, is a really dangerous spot for cyclists.

All this demonstrates the importance of the forthcoming Guildhall Square master plan. The square really is key to linking up all these currently fractured and disconnected parts of the city. Just hope the council are being ambitious enough, half measures really wont do.

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/regabc123/routing.jpg

I prefer the Queen Street route personally, but the Anglesea/Marketway junction creates a severe barrier.

That map makes perfect sense. You could almost see a tram run through there ;)

From my limited experience of Pompey, I can't really argue with your case. I really would like to see aesthetic station improvements to P&S and PMH stations. Open, tree lined plazzas and pedestrian or shared-space will make this area perfect.

They used too! Park Street could be magnificent again with a bit of vision. UoP have however spent a fair chunk of money doing King Henry inside and out *up not that long ago though.

*that must sound so wrong out of context

I prefer the Queen Street route personally, but the Anglesea/Marketway junction creates a severe barrier.

The Queen St route is an alternative, but it is less direct and If you think about trying to explain the tunnel under the railway to someone quite a bit more complicated.

I strongly believe that at some point in the future all of these improvements (rebuild PH and P&S stns, Guildhall Sq, Queen St etc) will happen, they are all so obvious and would make such a positive difference they seem inevitable but how soon is the question, cant see any of them happening in the next five years.

Does anybody have links to the original tram plans? I have a few idea of my own, and how they'd link to my Island plans ;) , but I'd love to see if they match. :)

Regarding Queen St, I think that it would provide a better route for the ferry and dockyard, but not for Gunwharf. Maybe a pronged approach?

unfortunately not, all the plans were wiped from history (at least online) when it was cancelled.

The route was relatively simple anyway, what where you unsure about?

I'm not unsure, just intrigued. I didn't have a massive interest in urban environments back then, so I would just liked to have seen what was proposed. Such a shame that it was wiped. Makes no sense to remove things like that from easily accessible, public history.

Thanks for the response too, by the way :)

Land Securities have applied for PP to install 200 solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of the recently acquired Europa House. They will cover the roof of the car park and are expected to meet most of its electricity requirements. Planning reference; 12/00202/FUL

An indication that there aren’t going to be any immediate plans for demolition and replacement, probably not feasible in the current climate anyway. Not entirely sure when (if they haven’t already) Pall are planning to completely vacate the building, but once they do Land Sec will find it quite difficult to find tenants without a fairly major refurb. Considering its age, build quality, external appearance and location a reclad is probably required, I imagine those metal windows are pretty leaky. Potential conversion to hotel/resi? Would probably be better for the city to get some decent office space in the city centre.

PLAY UP POMPEY, POMPEY PLAY UP!

Do you're bit for the club!

Hi from Le Havre (Normandy), twin city across the Channel

I regularly go to Portsmouth (3 or 4 times a year) by the ferry from Le Havre (LD Lines). Portsmouth is one of the cities of the United Kingdom that I prefer. I think the rehabilitation of the docks is a success and it seems that there was no coercion of the past. So, I like the Seafront and the Solent River !!!

In Le Havre, we also restored our docks in large shopping center: "Docks Vauban". They dated from the early nineteenth century. http://www.google.fr/search?hl=fr&q=docks%20vauban&btnK=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=kFhbT-nICqmr0QWnjInMDQ&biw=1424&bih=809&sei=kVhbT5SQGKKg0QXZmujaDQ

But there is also a project for a museum tour of 120 meters high (similar Spinaker Tower), dedicated to sustainable development and the history of ocean liners "French Line" Le Havre to New York.
http://www.ginger4.net/fr/projets/174/ateliers-jeannouvel-odyssey/video/12

The city is currently undergoing construction to achieve the first two tram lines. These lines should open in December 2012.
http://www.tramway-agglo-lehavre.fr/mediatheque/voyage-virtuel

There is also a large stadium under construction : http://www.agglo-lehavre.fr/Evenements/Grand_Stade/index.html



I wanted to know if the Portsmouth area had a light rail project (tram)? For this city as big as Le Havre, I find that public transportation are not enough developped and difficult to understand for foreign visitors (Several companies operate buses and pricing is not globalized in all lines ).

Except in the London area, the organization of transport, seems complicated for the user to the United Kingdom ?



Projects update your neighbors across the Channel. I would like that cultural relations between our two cities are growing ...
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=746524


Excuse me for the vocabulary, I don't speak English very well. I hope you get to understand me?

See you soon

Thanks for the info Fredo, always interesting to hear whats going on in the cities across the channel!

Doubts over Portsmouth’s Blade tower plan after developer quits

By Joe Nimmo
Published on Monday 19 March 2012 13:33

THE future of a landmark building planned for Portsmouth city centre is in doubt after the developer behind it pulled out.

The news means that the construction of the University of Portsmouth’s huge new hall of residence – dubbed the Blade tower because of its striking appearance – has been delayed.

The iconic structure will stand on the site of the former Victoria Baths and rise more than 300ft high above the city’s skyline. It was set to be finished next year in time for the start of the September term.

But the scheme has run into trouble after financial reasons led to construction firm Watkin Jones abandoning the project. The university told The News it was looking for a new developer but was not able to say how long the delay would last.

University Vice-Chancellor John Craven said: ‘Ongoing discussions mean the university is still unable to provide any specific additional information. It remains committed to the scheme both strategically and financially and hopes to be in a position to progress it shortly.’

MP for Portsmouth South and council cabinet member for planning, regeneration and economic development Mike Hancock said he was confident a replacement for Watkin Jones would be found.

He said: ‘It is an amazing development and when it is finally built it will be a major landmark in the city for generations to come.

‘And it will provide much-needed accommodation for thousands of students right in the heart of Portsmouth.

‘It is unfortunate the developer has pulled out for financial reasons, but I am sure the university is working very hard to find a new one.

‘They want this building built as much as we do and we will do everything we can to support them.’

The building was granted planning permission last year amid controversy over its height and modern design, but won the support of the Portsmouth Society and the Canon of St John’s Roman Catholic Cathedral David Hopgood.

Objections were raised by local residents and English Heritage, which said it believed the tower was ‘vastly too big’.

Conservative group spokeswoman for planning and regeneration, Cllr Donna Jones, said: ‘It is extremely disappointing news.

‘This is a vital corner of Portsmouth and as a university city with more than 17,000 students this is a hugely important project.’

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/politics/doubts-over-portsmouth-s-blade-tower-plan-after-developer-quits-1-3641734

fucking great...

Noticed today that the queens hotel extension site has been at least partially cleared. Would be good to see something aside from the museum going up in Pompey.

It has been like that for nearly a year now. What IS happening though is the 6 floor extension to the University Eldon Building on Winston Churchill Avenue. Fronting the road too, should liven it up a LOT.

Shows how much attention I've been paying. Eldon... is that the centre for creative industry thingy? Is it now going up?

Yeah it's literally about 2 minutes up the road from me - a piling rig has appeared at the site recently.

Yep. The renders on the hoardings look quite interesting.

Any chance of a pic anyone? Would be interested to see the renders as I dont think any were included in the planning app. Good news tho, a really decent design.

Just wondering if it would be a good idea to contact Robert gamlen again to see if there's anymore news on No.1. With the blade on hold, if not cancelled outright, for the foreseeable its the only big thing we have to look foward to. I assume there's been no visable progress with the demolition?

I'll go down tomorrow and get some pics of the renderings and the site.

In terms of No. 1, the last email he sent me was the one I posted on here saying they hope to be moving on by the summer. I'll go up and have a look at the site to see if anything's changed with the old building.

Cheers Superman. Hopefully well get something official on No.1 in the next month or two. They said construction in early summer which I would take as meaning May/June. So demo should be fairly imminent if this is still the plan.

Just had a look on the uni website.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/6915408569_f775243cf5_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cci_gallery/6915408569/)
Eldon Building (Night) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cci_gallery/6915408569/) by CCi Gallery (http://www.flickr.com/people/cci_gallery/), on Flickr

there's a fly through here too http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5WeSx5MIvVY

Here we go, as promised. The site was empty since it's a Sunday, but there are always people around when I walk by during the week. Nothing new at the No. 1 Portsmouth building yet, but as soon as anything changes I'll let you guys know. :cool:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8021/6956032846_a38814336f_b.jpg
by ghost-of-sparta (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghost-of-sparta/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8004/7102105121_40a8eea81a_b.jpg
by ghost-of-sparta (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghost-of-sparta/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8161/7102108673_84e4d9587c_b.jpg
by ghost-of-sparta (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghost-of-sparta/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7108/7102111519_f0f29ab90b_b.jpg
by ghost-of-sparta (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghost-of-sparta/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8152/6956046004_c9c5e56f99_b.jpg
by ghost-of-sparta (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghost-of-sparta/), on Flickr

I quite like it. Love the windows. Will be a nice addition to a city with a lot of potential!

Excellent thanks Superman. Another uni site to keep an eye on is the theater royal extension. Also spied yesterday the new Porsche dealership underway and looking suitable quality on the IBM/North Harbour site.

Going to be back and forth between pompey and Bristol in the next few months so would be great to see some more stuff going up.

No worries - I'll keep an eye on the NTR site too.
Let me know when you're next free in Portsmouth, we can go for a pint! ;)

I'll have to upload the pics from my office in Eldon looking down on it. Also, the 5-6 floor foyer thing behind P&S Station is nearly finished.

Whats that?

http://i45.tinypic.com/qzhs9j.jpg

This, sorry for the bad pic, the weather is crap today. Underneath the Scaffholding it is brick cladding, a lot nicer than the white. The building does wonders to brighten the street up though, this part of Pompey is grim at best

http://i45.tinypic.com/34dopyo.jpg

Here is the new Eldon West too, theres a massive Piling Rig out of shot (obscured by the building I took this from).

Yeah I put some photos of it on the last page. I can actually see it from my front door too.

Good vantage point there - I'm guessing only the right-hand section (from that angle) will be a building, the flythrough showed a big square in the middle, so hopefully your view won't be blocked too badly. ;)

Europa House to become a 170 bed Travelodge;

12/00405/FUL

Europa House Havant
Street Portsmouth PO1 3PD

Change of use from office (Class B1) to hotel (Class
C1) of levels 6 to 18 of Europa House tower; external
alterations to levels 6 to 18 of the tower; cladding of
the car park at ground floor to level 5; demolition of
the 4 storey annexe building; construction of new
ground floor hotel lobby and installation of railings up
to 2m high

Design & Access statement; http://idox.portsmouth.gov.uk/online-applications/files/8A8B7AE625F07D0E3055B13EB91FC4A1/pdf/12_00405_FUL-DESIGN_AND_ACCESS_STATEMENT-482817.pdf

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/regabc123/Trav1.jpg

Well it's certainly a fantastic location for a hotel - right next to the Historic Dockyard, a couple of minutes' walk to Gunwharf and close to the Hard Interchange. The reclad sounds promising, it's definitely not the most attractive building in its current state.

The reclad certainly does look promising. Bit of a shame that they couldn't do something more with the massive blank walls at either end of the car park. Hopefully this wont compromise other, more exciting, hotel schemes already in the pipeline.

I'm concerned this one diminishes the impact of it actually. To be honest, the Carpark needs to go, unrealistic though.

Portsmouth Harbour passengers to get new Gosport ferry by 2014

By Sam Bannister
Published on Wednesday 2 May 2012 07:26

FERRY passengers can look forward to hopping across Portsmouth Harbour on a new vessel.

The Gosport Ferry company has announced plans to design and build a new ferry ready to enter service in 2014.

It will be the first new one in nine years and will be of a similar size to the current Spirit of Gosport.

The company asked more than 1,300 passengers for their input on what it should look like and how it should be laid out.

It will have room for up to 300 passengers.

The ferry is likely to replace the company’s oldest vessels, Gosport Queen and Portsmouth Queen.

General manager of the Gosport Ferry Keith Edwards said: ‘People were generally happy with the ferries as they are at the moment so we shouldn’t have to make too many changes.

‘We have got to look to the future and we need to bring the service up to modern standards. We also need to ensure our extremely good reliability rate of 99.9 per cent carries on.

‘We were delighted that more than 1,000 passengers took part in our survey.

‘We want to make sure the ferry is designed to meet the needs of our passengers.

‘Seeking their views at this early stage in our planning is an important element in achieving that.’

Gosport Ferry has signed up a Portsmouth-based marine design company, Houlder Ltd, to design and build the vessel.

When the design is complete, the company will tender out the construction to shipyards.

There are four ferries that cross the harbour between Portsmouth and Gosport.

The newest, The Spirit of Portsmouth, was built in 2005 and also works as a cruise ferry.

The Spirit of Gosport was commissioned in 2001.

And the two oldest, Gosport Queen and Portsmouth Queen, were both built in 1966.

These are expected to be phased out once the new one is brought in.

Mr Edwards added: ‘We might keep one as a back-up vessel and we might be able to keep one as a heritage vessel.

‘But one of the issues we have is it is difficult to get hold of spare engine parts for them.

‘If we have a significant failure of one of the parts then we’re going to be in great difficulty.’

He added: ‘And we are extremely proud of our reliability rate and don’t want that to drop.’ http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/transport/portsmouth-harbour-passengers-to-get-new-gosport-ferry-by-2014-1-3795696

:)

Hate to quote myself but here goes;
Land Securities have applied for PP to install 200 solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of the recently acquired Europa House. They will cover the roof of the car park and are expected to meet most of its electricity requirements. Planning reference; 12/00202/FUL

An indication that there aren’t going to be any immediate plans for demolition and replacement, probably not feasible in the current climate anyway. Not entirely sure when (if they haven’t already) Pall are planning to completely vacate the building, but once they do Land Sec will find it quite difficult to find tenants without a fairly major refurb. Considering its age, build quality, external appearance and location a reclad is probably required, I imagine those metal windows are pretty leaky. Potential conversion to hotel/resi? Would probably be better for the city to get some decent office space in the city centre.

According to the planning statement on the hotel app the solar panels mentioned above will happen as part of the refurb.

Really confident about this one actually, will be a massive improvement when all is done. The solar panels will look great from spinnaker tower.

I hope they keep one of the older vessels as a heritage boat as they said, they really have character. Regarding the refurb, the solar panals are a proven concept with Manchesters CIS. It should look great!

Unrelated, has anyone else noticed that the Thorntons has closed in the old Cosham Tram Shelter? I hope it has a future.

Saturday was their last day, it was manic when I was in there, not really a fan of Thorntons anyway. I'm sure something will take it over, this is Gunwharf after all. There aren't many empty units.

Something might actually happen on a tiny bit of the Tipner site... not actual construction obviously.

Portsmouth regeneration project to start in June
Published date : 14 May 2012

Work on the £130m project to regenerate Tipner, Portsmouth, by bringing new homes, jobs and green space to the area is due to begin within weeks.

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has agreed a £3m contract to begin the clean-up of the land it owns, along with some owned by Portsmouth City Council, as the first phase of this important scheme. Contractors will begin working on the PD Fuels site off Twyford Avenue as part of its work to clear the area and prepare three other plots for development.

This supports the delivery of 80 much needed new and affordable homes and new retail space on the site. It forms part of wider plans to deliver up to 1,600 new homes, employment space to support 1,500 new jobs, a new park and ride facility, hotel and an improved motorway junction as a new gateway to the city. http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/news/portsmouth-regeneration-project-start-june?

Another city centre office to close;
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/politics/wingfield-house-closure-is-confirmed-1-3872820

Another building to sit abandoned for years?