Issues and projects
The things Portsmouth talks about most — what the figures say, who decides, and what you can do. Plus the city's big projects, from money announced to money spent.
Issues
Governance · Unknown
Reorganisation: the merger decision was withdrawn and is under review
Government decided in March 2026 to abolish Portsmouth City Council on 1 April 2028 and absorb it into a new South East unitary with Fareham, Gosport and Havant.
Environment · Too early to tell
Sewage discharges and Southsea East bathing water
One of Southsea's two bathing waters is officially classified "Poor", and storm overflows discharged into Portsmouth Harbour 124 times in the most recent reporting year.
Housing · Worsening
Housing delivery has collapsed
Portsmouth delivered 308 homes against a requirement of 2,702 over three years — a Housing Delivery Test result of 11%, down from 26%.
Education · Worsening
SEND demand and school absence
EHC plans maintained by Portsmouth are up 73% in seven years.
Health · Improving
Getting seen: GPs, dentists and preventable death
Portsmouth has run a fifth below England on GP staffing for years, fewer than three in ten adults have seen an NHS dentist, and under-75 deaths from preventable causes are 27% above the England rate — worse in every period on record..
Money · Stable
Jobs, pay and business survival
Jobs located in Portsmouth pay more than Portsmouth residents earn.
Environment · Improving
Air quality and how Portsmouth moves
Nitrogen dioxide has more than halved since 2001 and bus use has fully recovered past pre-pandemic levels.
Environment · Improving
Fly-tipping
Recorded incidents nearly doubled to 1,092 in 2023/24, then fell to 937 in 2024/25 — and collected tonnage fell 23.8% over the same kind of period.