Portsmouth Levelling Up project to transform port gets underway

Construction at Portsmouth International Port has begun on a new carbon neutral terminal extension, one of the first big Levelling Up projects to start.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities awarded the port £11.25m in funding to build new facilities.

With an extra 250,000 passengers per year estimated to call at the port in the future, on top of the port’s current two million, the expansion is necessary to keep up with capacity.

Cllr Steve Pitt, Portsmouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development, said: ‘This is fantastic news for the city, providing employment opportunities and promoting Portsmouth’s offer as the UK’s leading marine and maritime city.

‘Portsmouth lends itself ideally as a cruise port, with wonderful heritage assets and a spectacular waterfront for arrivals and departures.  We expect the improved facilities to kick start further investment in the city, from hotel capacity to an increase in tourism spending. 

‘We are determined to retain our environmental values, so the terminal will be carbon neutral when completed. 

‘We are proud of our position as the UK’s most successful local authority owned port, and this new extension will see the port go from strength to strength.’

The carbon neutral extension will feature a sky garden for passengers to see the view, a new walkway from the current terminal to the new check-in area, interior living walls, a new baggage hall and a cruise lounge.

It’s thought the project will create 2500 jobs nationally, with 550 based in the city, and an increase in cruise ships visiting will generate £1.5m in income.

The expansion will be net-zero, with solar panels, battery storage systems to store renewable energy and sea water being used to heat the building.

This is in line with ambitions for the port to become fully carbon neutral by 2030 and zero emissions by 2050.

Photo by Léa Debroise