Most of the city lies on Portsea Island, located where the Solent joins the English Channel. This makes Portsmouth the UK’s only island city and it combines centuries of maritime history with an attractive contemporary lifestyle. A significant naval port for centuries, it is home to world-famous historic ships, including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860 and the Mary Rose. New investment around the harbour has transformed the waterfront and attracts generations of new visitors to the city. In recent years the city has hosted major international events and The Spinnaker Tower at Gunwharf Quays opened in 2005 and is a new icon for the city. The University continues to grow with almost 20,000 students in the city.
Portsmouth has a population of 188,000. It is the most densely populated city outside of inner London with 46.9 people per hectare. Minority ethnic groups comprise 5% of the population. WW2 bomb damage created a home building project off the main island, Leigh Park in Havant is one of the biggest out-of-city developments in the UK.
Now no longer just a dockyard city, Portsmouth has a broad employment base with the largest sectors being engineering, manufacturing, tourism, retail and leisure, business services and public administration. The results are that unemployment is at a thirty year low and now 100,000 people work in the city. Its economy is the fourth largest in the South East (out of 67 local authorities) and the second largest in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. A 2004 Local Futures report stated that ‘Portsmouth gives an excellent all-round performance, sitting in the first quartile on measures of economic scale and productivity’. Growth rates in earnings and sub-regional GDP also sit in the first quartile. Total jobs in the city amount to 97,200 (of which 35k are part time). Unemployment is at 2% (UK average 5%). Some 41,900 commute into the city and 23,100 commute out of the city daily. Average household income £25,700 (UK average £29,400).
This waterfront city still has an important role as a major dockyard and home base for the Royal Navy. Vosper Thorneycroft have brought shipbuilding back to the city and in 2006 HMS Clyde will be the first ship launched here for 40 years. The home of the Royal Navy is now also home to leading edge companies such as Alenia Marconi Systems, Astrium, IBM UK, Pall Europe, McLaren Composites and Zurich Insurance Services.
Tourism is worth over £350m annually to Portsmouth, comprising 14% of Hampshire’s share. This supports some 7,000 jobs. Over 650,000 staying visits are made to Portsmouth, along with 3.5m day visits. Portsmouth has a number of nationally and regionally important visitor attractions, namely Portsmouth Historic Dockyard (500,000 visits), the Spinnaker Tower and Gunwharf Quays retail and leisure destination. Other important attractions include the D-Day Museum, Blue Reef Aquarium, Royal Marines Museum, Charles Dickens’ Birthplace, City Museum & Records Office, Clarence Pier Amusement Park, Southsea Castle, Natural History Museum, Eastney Beam Engine House, South Parade Pier. Both the New Theatre Royal and King’s Theatre offer high profile performances.
Regular events include Great South Run (October) with 18,000 participants; Portsmouth & Southsea Show (August); Heavy Horse Show (August); Race For Life (June); Live at The Bandstand (June-August); City Fireworks (November) Festival of Christmas at the Historic Dockyard (December). International maritime and sailing events are also held on a regular basis in Portsmouth, including the International Festival of the Sea, Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race and Volvo Ocean Race.
Recent tourism developments have included The Spinnaker Tower (opened in October 2005) with 215,000 visitors by March 2006; Interaction, the major new science and technology gallery in Action Stations, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard; ongoing development of City Centre North and Gunwharf Quays (addition of retail outlets, offices, residential buildings) and the opening of a new introductory Arthur Conan Doyle exhibition in June 2006.
Planned developments include a city centre transformation with £350 million already committed to its redevelopment and the retailer John Lewis confirmed as one of the major anchor stores. Re-development is also planned at Fratton Park and new sports facilities at the Mountabatten Centre. The cultural life of the city will also be given a boost by the opening in 2006 of a brand new Aspex gallery.
| Ian Bridges Business Investment Manager 023 9284 1072 ian.bridges@portsmouthcc.gov.uk |
Drusilla Moody Tourism and Visitor Services Manager 023 9283 4091 drusilla.moody@portsmouthcc.gov.uk |
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