Some are already being redeveloped into housing, community facilities and office space. However many question marks also remain over a number of prime city sites where progress has either ground to a halt - or has been non-existent.
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. Former Tricorn site
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. Picture: The Tricorn's parking area in November 1988 Photo: The News archive
14. Royal Marines Museum
In 2022 plans were unveiled to convert the former Royal Marine Museum into a five-star luxury hotel - but we are still awaiting a decision. If approved, a 100-room hotel will be created with a “classic” foyer reception and lobby, dining and bar rooms, private meeting rooms and common function areas. 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. Photo: -
15. Hilsea Lido Picture: IslandCity.UK
Work is well underway to bring the former Hilsea Lido back to life thanks to government funding. This allowed the city council to carry out the essential works needed to make the site usable again. It is now looking for a tenant to take over both the Lido and the adjoining Blue Lagoon who can then utilise both to generate enough income to improve the site even further. | Habibur Rahman Photo: Picture: IslandCity.UK
16. Matalan, Station Street
Matalan, on Station Road, Portsmouth shut in September last year as the discount retail brand relocated to The Pompey Centre. Planning permission has now been granted for HMRC to have a new office which will be built in the carpark of the former shop. Plans are expected to be unveiled soon for a new use for the site where the former shop currently sits. Picture: Chris Moorhouse Photo: Chris Moorhouse