Portsmouth MPs urge locals to lead plans for £40m pride in place investment
Up to £40m will be invested into Landport and Paulsgrove, with city MPs asking residents to plan how it’ll be spent.
Portsmouth MPs are asking residents to put themselves forward to chair Pride in Place neighbourhood boards.
Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, and Amanda Martin, MP for Portsmouth North have made the call to action as part of the Pride in Place initiative.
The scheme, announced in September last year, will invest £5.8bn over ten years into hundreds of disadvantaged communities.
Landport and Paulsgrove were chosen as part of the scheme, with both areas awarded up to £20m.
The neighbourhood boards will comprise residents, partners and local voices to create a ten-year plan for each area.
The role is voluntary, with reasonable expenses and modest financial support available to ensure the role is accessible to all – with the aim of establishing them by July 2026.
Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South said: “I am so proud to have secured funding for the heart of our city to help restore pride in place. This £40 million investment into Landport and Paulsgrove will change lives and transform our communities.
“Portsmouth people know our city better than anyone else and that’s why, through this Government funded programme, we are keen to deliver Pride in Place in Landport differently. This is our chance to improve our city by making the big decisions for ourselves – not by letting others make decisions for us.
“I look forward to working with the council in delivering this programme with the community and actively encourage anyone with the interest, time and skills to be the Landport Chair to apply for this exciting opportunity driven by local people”.
Amanda Martin, MP for Portsmouth North said: “I know what this funding will mean to people living in Paulsgrove because I grew up there. It’s where my family built their lives, where neighbours looked out for each other, and where a strong sense of community has always existed, even when investment hasn’t.
“Places like the Cross Keys pub, St Michael’s Church, Allaway Avenue Shops and streets like Mousehole Road where my nan lived all her life aren’t just landmarks, they’re part of people’s everyday lives and shared history.
“This funding is about recognising that pride and making sure Paulsgrove gets the support it needs to thrive.
“I’m really excited that we’re now moving forward with recruiting a chair to help deliver on local priorities and work with residents to shape what comes next.
“This is a chance to put pride back into Paulsgrove by building on what’s already strong, listening to local voices, and making improvements that genuinely reflect the community.”