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Portsmouth
Most of Portsmouth lies on Portsea Island, located where the Solent joins the English Channel. This makes Portsmouth the UK’s only island city and it combines centuries of maritime history with an attractive contemporary lifestyle. Portsmouth has a population of 197,700 and has the second largest economy in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
A significant naval port for centuries, it is home to world-famous historic ships, including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860 and the Mary Rose. Now no longer just a dockyard city, Portsmouth has a broad employment base with the largest sectors being advanced engineering & manufacturing, tourism, retail and leisure, business services and public administration. It is home to leading edge companies such as, EADS Astrium, IBM UK, Pall Europe, McLaren Composites, Rolls-Royce, BVT, BAE Systems and Raymarine.
This waterfront city still has an important role as a major dockyard and home base for the Royal Navy. It is a major employer in the city, with 17,200 people and 750 businesses who form a supply chain to the base. A recent development for the dockyard was the merger of the shipbuilding operations of VT Group and BAE Systems to create BVT. In addition to shipbuilding, BVT will help build and support two new super carriers, generating 2000 jobs for the city.
The most significant developments have been Gunwharf Quays and the Spinnaker Tower – both placing the city on the map and acting as a catalyst for attracting further investment and development. Gunwharf Quays is best known for its designer outlets and extensive leisure amenities. It is also a business location, with companies such as world leading computer games developer Climax based there too.
Portsmouth has significant waterfront and landmark development plans for the future. The highest profile is the redevelopment of the Tipner site at the gateway to the city, which will include new houses, offices, hotels and other related uses. Waterfront redevelopment is planned at Lakeside Northarbour, with 750,000 sq ft of new offices plus hotels overlooking the 18-acre lake on the M27. Already home to IBM UK, 1000 Lakeside will become Portsmouth’s premier business park over the next ten years. There is also significant commercial investment in the city centre, with three new hotels with planning consent, including a four-star one in a 25-storey tower to the north of the railway station. The other two form part of the redevelopment of the Zurich site that also includes new office space.
These exciting future developments, coupled with the environmental quality and exceptional leisure amenities make Portsmouth a great place to work, visit and live.
For further information about Portsmouth as a business location please follow the link;
www.portsmouth.gov.uk/business
