UK marine development to create around 2,000 jobs

Around 2,000 new marine sector jobs stand to be created in the south of England in a £1.5bn-plus project planned over the next decade by Portsmouth City Council (PCC) at its Tipner West site.

This major development, proposed over recent years, is being supported by local Gosport-based company, Marina Projects Ltd.

Located on the edge of Portsmouth Harbour, the development will deliver a substantial marine employment site of over 10 hectares within a ground-breaking new community. The proposals for Tipner West include the creation of a marine employment, training, education and research campus that will support approximately 2,000 jobs.

In respect of the project’s development, completing all the planning is expected to take up this year and run into 2021. Following on from that, securing all the required planning consents and approvals will extend through 2022 into 2023. The construction phase is estimated at five years, starting in 2023.

The Tipner West site has been earmarked for development for a number of years and as well as the marine sector proposals, the project will also provide a modern car-free community with approximately 4,000 new homes. To achieve this overall objective, a 27 hectare area will have to be reclaimed into Portsmouth Harbour. Comprehensive transport plans include the use of water taxis to connect with local communities and other transport infrastructure.

In respect of the role of Marina Projects, it is working alongside PCC and a professional team including planning consultants Savills; master planners Gensler; and WSP, who are providing engineering and design services. The scope of Marina Projects’ involvement includes:

• Site assessment to identify the optimum access to water opportunities that will facilitate the optimisation of the site for marine sector uses
• Market research of the marine employment market
• Marine sector stakeholder engagement including the harbour authority and local boating clubs
• Support to the concept design, master-planning and project costings
• Input to the complex consent regime and regulator consultation

Megan Carter, senior regeneration manager, says: “As our exciting plans move forward, we continue to gain intelligence around what is required for this tremendous development. This would not be possible without having a team enriched with expertise and passion for success. Marina Projects are specialists who personify these qualities and they have provided us with the vital insight required to design and create this significant marine employment.”

“There is a very strong case for marine employment at Tipner West,” adds Mike Ward, Marina Projects managing director. “National policy to expand the sector recognises the Solent region as key to the UK’s maritime economy and within the region there is a recognised shortage of waterfront marine employment sites.”

He adds: “Tipner West has all of the attributes to deliver a regionally significant marine employment site, including critical deep-water access and our market research has identified numerous sectors with significant growth potential that are currently being constrained by lack of access to key infrastructure. These include among others the commercial repair/refit market and superyacht sector. The site is at a key gateway into the city and Portsmouth’s maritime heritage and skills base will ensure the benefits delivered underpin the economic growth of the city and wider region. This is a project that is particularly important to me, we are a local marine sector business truly-invested in assisting to deliver the potential of the sector.”