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:
17. Venture Tower in Fratton
Plans to convert Venture Tower into student flats have been given the go-ahead despite concerns from local residents about parking and community impact. The development will transform the abandoned Fratton building into a 100-bedroom student residence, featuring extensions, new cladding, and communal facilities. The ground floor, which currently houses shops and takeaways, will remain as commercial space. The project includes a mix of fully accessible rooms, studio apartments, and self-contained units and has been granted planning permission by Portsmouth City Council. Communal areas such as study rooms, a leisure room, a cinema, and a gym will be located between the first and fourth floors, with a shared terrace on the fifth floor. | -