Portsmouth City Council’s Planning team has been named as a finalist at the UK Planning Awards 2025 for Local Authority Planning Team of the Year, recognising their exceptional post-pandemic performance recovery and successful delivery of two major development projects.
The national recognition celebrates the team’s remarkable transformation in planning performance since the pandemic, whilst simultaneously executing two significant projects that are defining the future of Britain’s sole island city: the Southsea Coastal Scheme and the Somers Orchard housing initiative.
The Southsea Coastal Scheme, executed in collaboration with Coastal Partners, represents Britain’s most extensive local authority-managed coastal protection initiative. Covering 4.5 kilometres of coastline, the project will safeguard more than 10,000 properties, 704 commercial enterprises, critical infrastructure, and heritage sites for a century.
The team also earned recognition for their involvement in Somers Orchard, a community-driven housing project tackling poverty and fire hazards in one of Portsmouth’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Created alongside the council’s Housing department and informed by a Government-supported design code pilot programme, the development attracted merely five objections despite consultation with over 900 local residents—demonstrating the effectiveness of its comprehensive and open engagement strategy.
New 2,000-home development planned between Emsworth and Denvilles
Councillor Hugh Mason, Cabinet Member for Planning Policy & City Development at Portsmouth City Council, commented:
“Achieving finalist status for this distinguished award represents an outstanding accomplishment and reflects the dedication, creativity and community-centred approach of our Planning team. Their contributions are genuinely improving the quality of life for Portsmouth residents.”
The UK Planning Awards were revealed during Wednesday’s ceremony on 11th June at IET London: Savoy Place, where Portsmouth earned recognition amongst five finalists representing the nation’s premier planning authorities.
