Some are already being redeveloped into housing, community facilities and office space - though some have been torpedoed - including the plans to relocate HMRC into the city centre, with the government unexpectedly pulling the plug on the scheme.
But many question marks also remain over a number of prime city sites where progress has either ground to a halt - or have been non-existent despite permission being given to bring sites back into use.
This comes at time when the government has ordered the city council to allow the construction of 899 homes per year between 2020-2040 - that’s 17,980 in total - meaning that the sites for housing have never been more important.
But it is not just about housing. It is about leisure and retail space - and measures which will bring about a much-needed regeneration to areas of our city which need a bit of TLC!
We take a whistle-stop tour across the city to look at 17 key sites across Portsmouth to see what the future (should) have in store for them:
13. Tricorn Centre, city centre
The ten-storey Tricorn Centre opened in 1966 and in its heyday was a centre for shops, a popular market and the giant carpark. But in the 1980's the centre started to become run down and neglected and plans were drawn up to improve the site - including by adding 50 two storey maisonettes on the upper two decks of the building. Those proposals were rejected. The site - and the empty site opposite site of Marketway - were pencilled in for reuse for an ambitious 'Northern Quarter' revamp of the city centre. This led to the demolition of the Tricorn in 2004. However the 'Northern Quarter' plans have not yet come into fruition and the former shopping centre remains a surface-level carpark. But now, new experts are carrying out initial work to help progress a new vision for the cite and surrounding area and are set to report back to the city council later this year. Pictured: The Tricorn Centre in 1988. | National World Photo: The News
14. Royal Marines Museum at Eastney
It is one step forward, and twosteps back for the former Royal Marines Museum at Eastney which is on sale after plans for a 96-room luxury hotel were approved earlier this year. If a new buyer can be found - and assuming they want to take forward the hotel plans - it will replace the former museum in Eastney which closed down in 2017 due to its poor condition and concerns about whether exhibits could be damaged. A new Royal Marines 'experience' is set to be created to replace Action Stations at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard | Malcolm Wells (113899-5547)
15. Matalan, city centre
Matalan, on Station Road, Portsmouth shut in 2023 as the discount retail brand relocated to The Pompey Centre. Planning permission was granted for HMRC to have a new office which will be built in the carpark of the former shop, heralding a new use for the site. But now the government has pulled the plug on the move and HMRC staff will remain at Lynx House (for now at least). Plans were expected to be unveiled soon for a new use for the site where the former shop currently sits. Whether another business will take on the approved office space or it will be back to the drawing board for the entire site is now the big question. Photo: Google
16. Former Slindon Street Post Office hub
It was once a busy Post Office hub, but the sorting, delivery and collection services have been slowly taken away from this city centre site over the decades. The parcel pick up service at Slindon Street was the last to close in 2016 when it was relocated to the north of the city and the building has been largely unused since - with the exception of the Post Office site. Since then planning permission has been secured for the demolition of the eastern side of the former sorting office, which has been unused since 2016, to make way for the new 19-storey building to accommodate new apartments. Permission was also granted to create a 218-bed hotel - except the existing Post Office unit. However, the Post Office is looking at selling off this site - so these plans may change further before any progress is made. | Google Stretview