Portsmouth International Port’s cruise terminal transformation is currently underway, as contractors Knights Brown started construction on a new carbon-neutral passenger terminal, which is expected to strengthen the city’s position as a major UK port.
The cruise port has been awarded GBP 11.25 million funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to construct new facilities. Due to the increase in cruise ships visiting the port the transformation will create the capacity to manage an anticipated additional ~250,000 passengers per year, in addition to the current 2 million.
The carbon-neutral extension is due to feature a sky garden, a new walkway from the current cruise terminal to the check-in area, interior living walls, an exclusive cruise lounge, and a baggage hall.
It will create 2500+ jobs nationally, including 550 in the port city. Cruise ships are expected to increase in Portsmouth with each call due to generating up to GBP 1.5 million through port charges, passenger spending on local goods and services like hotels and attractions, as well as supplies to the ship.
Portsmouth appeals to the small/mid-size, luxury, boutique, expedition cruise sector looking for a port that sets them apart from the mass market. The port is competing with European destinations and has a chance to secure additional revenue for UK GDP, with each call anticipated to generate up to GBP 1.5 million for the region’s economy.
The transformation is cutting-edge in environmental development, helping the cruise port achieve its ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030 as well as zero emissions by 2050.
The port of Portsmouth was part of a successful GBP 20 million bid called Transforming the Visitor Economy, which includes funding for Hilsea Lido and the creation of the longest urban park ‘Linear Park’ in the UK in the north of the city. The creation of the UK's longest urban Linear Park connects the west of the port city to the eastern edge, with enhanced cycling/walking facilities.