The Wildlife Trusts

Tipton peninsula

Don’t go there! Save wildlife from super-peninsula plans

Plans for a ‘super peninsula’ undermine nature laws and make a mockery of climate and ecological crises.

Much-loved wildlife and important habitats are at serious risk if proposals to drain and concrete over a huge area of Portsmouth Harbour are given the go-ahead. 

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Portsmouth City Council want to develop the north‐east corner of Portsmouth Harbour to meet housing targets, planning to build more than 4,000 new houses and a new 1million sq ft marine hub at Tipner West.  The scheme has been put forward as a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity for the city, said to create a revolutionary, car free environment (with underground parking located below sea level).  

But the reality is that the development would take and destroy 67 acres (27 hectares, around the size of 50 football pitches) of already protected intertidal habitats – which would effectively double the existing terrestrial footprint - plus a further 3 hectares of protected land and additional undesignated but important wildlife areas.

If approved, this development will set a dangerous precedent and the damaging impacts will be felt across the UK, not just in Portsmouth. If we don’t start prioritising nature’s recovery, our cities will quickly become uninhabitable for both wildlife and people.  This development must be stopped now - we must find a way to meet housing need and support growth without breaching the limits of our land or the natural environment. 

More about why this matters >

Meeting required housing targets has been the focus of the Council’s concerns so far. As one of the most densely populated cities in the UK, Portsmouth struggles to accommodate the significant additional housing demanded by Government.  There is limited space and the existing infrastructure is already under pressure.  

But pressure to respond to Central Government's demands for housing cannot excuse the destruction of Portsmouth’s vital natural assets, or important existing legal safeguards to be dismissed! 

This proposal would fail the wildlife and people of Portsmouth and set a dangerous precedent for nature’s destruction. 

We want to see nature recovering across land and seas, for all our sakes - not destroyed unnecessarily. 

Problem for wildlife; problem for people

We are in a climate and ecological emergency.

Portsmouth Harbour is one of the largest expanses of mudflats and tidal creeks on the south coast of Britain. It plays an important part in the Solent coastline, which welcomes nearly 30% of the UK’s population of dark‐bellied brent geese, as well as dunlin and black‐tailed godwits and many other wintering waders. It is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area and a Ramsar Site in recognition of its huge importance. These habitats are already under increasing pressure from coastal squeeze, rising sea level and poor water quality. 

In addition to their value for wildlife, these habitats help to protect Portsmouth from erosion, and provide natural carbon storage and filtration. Given the threats of climate change and rising sea levels these proposals are completely inappropriate, and would be extremely costly financially as well as environmentally.  

The Council currently believes that there no alternatives and that meeting housing targets might trump nature’s protection and the Government's many pledges for the environment. If approved, this would set a hugely damaging precedent, which could give the green light to further destructive development and take a wrecking ball to the country’s natural heritage. 

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and RSPB are working together to stand up for nature.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust RSPB

Sign our petition

Add your voice to our call for common sense and stop the reckless destruction of nature.

Dear Portsmouth Council: stop the ‘super peninsula’ development in Portsmouth! 

Meeting housing needs and supporting growth does not have to breach the limits of our land or environment.    

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