‘Landport’, the region of our observation, covers what is regarded as Portsmouth’s city centre. The townscape varies across this area, reflected by the shift from retail and business at the west and centre to more residential uses in the east. The functions in the western regions of Landport are knowingly occupied by Commercial Road. It is a built up area with complex typology, consisting of larger buildings or blocks of buildings with noticeably little architectural consistency or detail. The era of these developments have unfortunately produced building and street plans with poor layout; disused, under-used and inadequate space (i.e alleyways) discourage social cohesion. The anti-social behaviour this subsequently attracts reduces pedestrian movement, especially at night.
The absence of significant topography in the form substantial hills (with the exception of Portsdown Hill) prevents the concealment of taller buildings. This is particularly evident in the south-westernmost regions around the railway station; this part of the city centre constitutes the largest, most concentrated and significant cluster of existing tall buildings in the city. Typology here is characterised by very large irregular blocks often occupied by individual buildings, it is highly permeable and also contains or is flanked by large amounts of open space.
Portsea Island is home to approximately 240,000 people. The 40km2 region is the most densely populated city in the UK outside of London, with an average density of 5,000 people per km2. Most of this density is skewed and concentrated towards the city centre and greater Landport area. Portsmouth’s unemployment rates are higher than the regional average, and most of the higher skilled jobs are taken by people that commute into the city for work. Despite meaningful attempts in economic diversification by capitalising on the region’s heritage, geography and demography, the data in the presented graphs further support a conflicting reality.
The unpromising connotations for Portsmouth’s local economic output:
- The area struggles with inevitable annual population growth due to it’s physical constraints
- Combined with the findings of the urban exploration, commercial road and the greater city centre area is a locality who’s economy lacks diversity.
- Current local economic output is diluted by commuters, and as such inadequate priority is given to the immediate and local populations to support indigenous economic growth
- The area is competing poorly relative to it’s size, despite access to labour and opportunities in diversifying economic growth.
- Coupled with census data, there is a large population graduates and local population of skilled, qualified workers who do not find opportunity in the city centre
Comments