The Borough of Gosport is located on a low-lying peninsula, which fronts Portsmouth Harbour to the east and the Solent waterway to the south and west. Approximately five miles long and four miles across, the Borough has over 24 miles of coastline, comprising a mix of harbour frontage, beach and coastal inlets. Its natural attributes and historic industrial strengths in the marine, defence and technology related sectors make it an area attractive for both business and leisure.
The Borough has a population of approximately 77,000 of which 61.3% are of working age. With an economic activity rate of 82.8%, the area compares favourably with the south east regional average (annual population survey 2004).
There are approximately 1800 businesses in the Borough, a figure that will continue to increase with the ongoing development of brownfield sites. Ministry of Defence (MOD) land releases have led to a number of mixed use and employment schemes being developed over the last few years. These have resulted in the expansion and relocation into the area of a significant number of firms, including the high profile yacht racing and major events company, Clipper Ventures plc, whose headquarters are now based at Royal Clarence Yard.
The purchase by SEEDA, the Regional Development Agency for South East England, of the former HMS Daedalus site at Lee-on-the-Solent, together with the proposed redevelopment of the Gosport waterfront will build on these successes and result in further business creation across a range of industry sectors.
The Ministry of Defence continues to be a major employer in the Borough, with a range of sites providing a diversity of functions and services. Whilst the MOD and other key employers, such as Tyco Healthcare, Qinetiq Haslar, Huhtamaki and Wyeth Research, make a significant contribution to the 26,000 jobs available in the Borough, they also generate additional demand for accommodation from contractors, visitors and trainees attending courses.
Gosport’s tourism sector is an important element of the local economy and one which is set to grow as the waterfront and other key initiatives, such as the development of a country park in the Alver Valley, continue to transform the Borough into a vibrant and exciting destination for visitors.
The Borough is popular with tour and coach operators and a variety of clubs and special interest groups operating in the short break leisure market. With Portsmouth Harbour to the east and the Solent to the West, Gosport also benefits from large influxes of visitors who are attracted to the wide variety of national and international events that take place in the area on a regular basis.
Approximately 55,000 enquiries are received each year by the local Tourist Information Centre, providing an indication of the level of interest in the leisure market.
Gosport has a number of attractions, including the internationally acclaimed Royal Naval Submarine Museum and award-winning Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower. Average visitor figures to these sites are typically 55,000 and 31,000 per annum respectively. Both of these attractions benefit from a waterfront location and easy access to the Gosport Ferry, which carries over 3.5 million passengers across the Harbour each year. In addition, the Gosport Ferry company offer a range of cruises and waterborne tours to a variety of destinations in the Solent area. Within the Town Centre, Gosport Gallery and Discovery Centre provide local interest to both residents and visitors, generating a footfall of 100,000 during the last twelve months alone.
There are a range of other attractions and places of interest in the Borough, including the Waterfront Trail, Oakleaf brewery tours, Crescent Gardens and a 17th Century Village; not to mention the natural appeal of the local marinas, blue flag beaches, coastal walks and extensive cycle ways.
The map shows the location of the Borough’s main business parks, development sites and major visitor attractions.
| Lynda Dine Head of Economic Prosperity 023 9254 5231 lynda.dine@gosport.gov.uk |
David Martin Leisure & Amenities Services Manager 023 9254 5512 david.martin@gosport.gov.uk |
Juliette Scott Tourism Officer 023 8062 5463 jscott@tourismse.com |
Chris Payne Principal Planning Officer 023 9254 5216 chris.payne@gosport.gov.uk |
There are currently no hotels within Gosport district. However, development opportunities have been identified for a budget hotel on sites across the borough.