Portsmouth City Council has submitted its new Portsmouth Local Plan to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for independent examination.

The Portsmouth Local Plan is the statutory development plan for the city. It will guide decisions on development in Portsmouth up to 2040. The Plan allocates sites for development, sets targets for new homes and jobs, and includes city‑wide policies on design, greening and responding to the climate emergency.

The submitted Local Plan brings together the Regulation 19 Pre‑Submission Portsmouth Local Plan 2024 and the Regulation 19 Pre‑Submission Portsmouth Local Plan Addendum 2025.

Residents, organisations and businesses have been consulted at every stage of the Plan’s preparation including two Pre-Submission consultations in 2024 and 2025. Over 6,000 comments were received during the Pre-Submission consultations, and all of them have been sent to the Planning Inspector along with the supporting evidence.

Councillor Hugh Mason, Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and City Development, said: “I would like to thank everyone who took part in the Local Plan consultations over the last few years. The Local Plan sets the framework for future planning decisions and reflects the issues and priorities raised through public engagement.

“Once adopted, the Plan will provide a clear basis for managing development in Portsmouth up to 2040.”

An independent Planning Inspector will now be appointed to assess whether the Local Plan is legally compliant and sound, in line with national planning policy.

The Local Plan submission documents and supporting evidence can be viewed on the council’s website, at the Civic Offices, and at Central, Southsea, Carnegie and Cosham libraries.

For more information about the Portsmouth Local Plan examination, visit portsmouth.gov.uk/localplan