Seven infrastructure and investment projects which will shape the South of England for generations

The post pandemic construction boom coupled with the levelling up agenda has seen huge developments spring up across the UK.

TBM looks at seven major Southeast developments which will impact, not only where we live but how and where we work for decades to come.

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Welborne

Welborne is a new residential purpose built village near Fareham.

In excess of 400 hectare, £30million of government funding has gone into this 6000 home village by Buckland Developers.

Located between South Downs National Park and the coastline, the Welborne project will reinvigorate the entire region by creating a purpose-built village, one of 14 across the UK.

Plans include a railway station, four schools, drone landing sites, driverless cars and green energy provision via a solar park. The energy generated will be sufficient to power between 13,000 and 16,000 houses on this Hampshire scheme.

In a statement Buckland confirmed their: “Genuine aspiration to create a popular place to live, work and visit that will stand the test of time and create a lasting legacy.”

Having received full planning consent from Fareham Borough Council. Hampshire County Council has confirmed its position as the delivery body for the new M27 Junction 10 works. Thereby providing this development with first class transport links.

ABP Ports – Freeport related

The Associated British Port Company have a total of 21 ports across the UK. Their presence at the Freeport will shape the future of Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight far beyond economics.

Southampton is ABP’s largest port in terms of exporting shipping containers and Europe’s largest Cruise liner port (in terms of turnarounds).

The port contributes £2.5million to the UK economy.

The Solent Freeport project will, according to Southampton Council, attract in excess of £1billion in additional investment and create 16000 jobs in the Solent and 25000 jobs across the wider region.

Freeports benefit from tax reliefs, simplified customs procedures and streamlined planning processes in order to promote regeneration and economic growth.

Expected to be operational by year end, it is estimated that UK plc will receive an additional £3.57 billion GVA from the project. Direct benefits will, say those behind the plan, be felt as far away as the Midlands.

The port is already central to the UK automotive industry, offshore wind, steel importation and delivery of other key construction methods.

The Solent facility handles exports worth £40 billion annually, including £36 billion destined for markets outside the EU. These numbers will only rise in a post-Brexit economy.

The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership are developing the port with key infrastructure plans outlined in their Solent 2050 strategy.

The strategy identifies seven priorities to ‘maximise opportunities and capitalise on the region’s strengths’. Namely:
• Supporting the marine and maritime economy
• Pioneering approaches to climate change adaptation and decarbonisation
• Cementing [the Solent’s] position as the UK’s capital of coastal renaissance, harnessing new technologies and approaches to revitalise coastal communities
• Developing a visitor, creative and cultural economy, capitalising on the Solent’s natural beauty and rich maritime history
• Developing a world-class talent base
• Supporting an outstanding business environment
• Put health and wellbeing at the heart of economic success

Paul Anthony, RSM’s regional manager for the South, said: "Although the Freeports model is not strategically new in a global context, it will be the first step in showing the world that the Solent and the UK is open to international trade post-Brexit.

“The less stringent controls and tax benefits will be particularly enticing to traders, while the regeneration of the Solent will be welcomed."

Green ambitions
The port is an industry leader in offsetting emissions and the drive to net zero.

ABP state they have invested £55million into sustainability measures at UK ports since 2011.

In terms of utilising clean maritime technologies, Associated British Ports operate two shore-side power connections at Southampton. This infrastructure, the first in the UK, allows compatible cruise ships to ‘plug-in’ to mains, resulting in zero emissions while berthed.

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Dunsbury Park

Highlighting the scale of the Freeport project, a satellite site of the Port is also included on our list.

Dunsbury Park is described as a new business gateway to the south. This 100 acre prime industrial and manufacturing business park is a designated tax site within Solent Freeport.

Biomedical manufacturer Bio-Pure recently occupied a brand new 120,000 sq ft hi-tech production facility within the park. They join anchor tenants, the fashion firm Fat-Face’s UK HQ, DPD and Breeze Motor Group.

The park offers a range of opportunities with units from 20,000 to 200,000 sq ft.

Those based at Dunsbury Park will be able to benefit from a relaxation of normal customs and tax. This will attract inward investment and stimulate business activity with the park ideally situated to benefit. We are not only talking geographically, as being adjacent to the A3(M) means it has excellent connectivity and capacity for goods distribution.

Dunsbury Park offers a generous government package of financial incentives (subject to application and qualification) for new occupiers.

This includes 100% capital allowance on new plant and machinery used within the Freeport Tax Site and 100% business rates relief for five years.

Adanac Park

This industrial and warehousing site is currently in Phase 3 of development and addresses logistical/delivery shortages in the region.

An employment generator and key logistical site this will no doubt be a key economic driver in the region for decades.

Building on two completed and successful phases, this bespoke design and build opportunity from Lambert Smith and Hampton is situated on 13 acres of industrial property close to junction 3 on the M27.

Located eight minutes outside Southampton City Centre Adanac Park is a mere ten minutes from the soon to be redeveloped Southampton Airport.

The project offers occupiers the flexibility to design industrial property to suit the specific purpose of your business.

Portsmouth City centre regeneration
Portsmouth City Council have committed to a multi billion pound city centre regeneration plan, which will, they state secure the future of the heart of the city.

The project includes remodelling the current high street and making significant changes and adaptions to provision of public transport in Portsmouth.

The aim is that easy travel leads to a thriving economy. All regeneration projects within the city centre are aligned with the desired outcomes of the ‘Imagine 2040 City Vision.’ Roads infrastructure, retail, trade, employment space and public realm spaces will all be upgraded as part of the plan.

Key targets include providing almost 10,000 new jobs, 2600 new homes, new leisure facilities and 154,000 sq. m. of employment space.

The Council claim that building thousands of homes will attract thousands of jobs to the region.

Southsea Coastal Scheme

Initially conceived as a sea defence project, this coastal scheme has become much much more.
Now the scheme is marketed as 'protecting communities and unlocking opportunities.'

The UK's largest local authority-led coastal defences project, Southsea Coastal Scheme is worth more than £130M to the economy. When completed it will stretch for 4.5km from Old Portsmouth to Eastney.

Being perilously close to sea level, island city Portsmouth is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. With 49 kms of coast line the region is particularly at risk of rising sea levels. Some of the city is actually five meters below sea level – There is a reason it is home to the Royal Navy.

The works are undertaken to protect 10,000 homes and 700 businesses. Approximately 4,000 of these properties are at risk of becoming permanently submerged by rising sea levels.

A council spokesperson stated: “We are building new coastal defences that reduce the risk of a major flood event now and for the next 100 years. We also seek to enable regeneration, enhance the public realm and improve the setting of the many historic and cultural features that make our seafront so unique.”

The economic impact of the project is central to Portsmouth’s tourist sector. Read the full Southsea masterplan here.

"The latest economic impact report showed Portsmouth welcomed around 9.4 million visitors in 2015 (8,700,000 day visitors and 737,000 staying visitors), contributing £610.3 million to the local economy.

"The latest employment figures show 12,777 jobs are now supported by tourism. This represents 12.1% of all jobs in the city,“ confirmed the Council spokesperson.

Tipner West

Said to have the capacity to create thousands of new jobs in the marine sector, Tipner West has been described as a once-in-a-generation opportunity and a new gateway to Portsmouth.

Essentially it is a marine sector economic supercharger project combined with house and bridge building infrastructure project. Tipner West is the result of a Council commitment to deliver 1,250 homes and 35,000 square metres of employment space.

The project will also see a new bridge, inaccessible to private cars link Tipner West and Horsea Island East.

Feasibility studies are ongoing as to how to maximise the sites potential. The final decision has yet to be reached on whether to include land reclamation as part of the project.

Council have confirmed that 30% of homes will be in the affordable bracket, 8,000 square metres of marine employment space at Tipner West and Horsea Island East, new boatyards, boat sheds, workshops, offices and stores, research and development, office space and educational facilities.

This opportunity is the product of Portsmouth’s 2013 city deal. The UK Treasury parted with £48.75 million to invest in growth, critical infrastructure, skills and jobs at Tipner West and Horsea Island East.

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