You have until Friday 2 August to give your views on a plan to bring jobs and prosperity to the city, and make sure everyone benefits.
Portsmouth City Council is finalising the plan after a year of consultation and research and working with economic experts.
Now it needs the views of residents, businesses and local organisations to ensure it meets the needs of the city.
The plan – the city’s draft economic development and regeneration strategy – will enable businesses and organisations in the city to work to a common, agreed goal for the next decade or more.
By having an agreed strategy, the city will also be in a stronger position to claim funding from government and regional bodies aimed at boosting economic growth.
The overall aim is to make Portsmouth Britain’s premier waterfront technology and innovation city – a great place to invest, learn, live, work and visit, and the most attractive place for starting, growing or locating a business.
Concerns of residents and businesses, that emerged during consultation over the last 12 months, have been included in the draft strategy.
These include needs for:
The strategy also focuses on key challenges and opportunities such as:
The Leader of the Council, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said: “The strategy is an important part of our plan for change in the city. It’s all about exploiting Portsmouth’s unique strengths and assets to boost economic prosperity.
“Economic growth isn’t an end in itself. It’s a way of ensuring that all of our residents have the opportunity for a decent quality of life for themselves and for their children and their children’s children.
“We’ve consulted on this strategy right from the start of the process, last July. By listening to the concerns of residents and businesses we have made sure that this strategy is what the city collectively wants. We’re now consulting on the final draft strategy – please let us know your views.”
Councillor Steve Pitt, Cabinet Member for Culture and City Development, said: “We are really keen to hear the views of residents, businesses, organisations and groups in the city on the proposed strategy and also to hear your ideas on how you could help us to deliver the strategy. By working together we really could deliver fantastic results for the city so we encourage you join us to work together on a shared vision.”
To see the draft strategy, and take part in the final round of consultation, go to www.portsmouth.gov.uk and search ‘plan for prosperity’.
The deadline for comments is 5pm on Friday 2 August 2019.
