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Environment · What matters

Air pollution and traffic

Traffic and shipping pollute the air on busy roads, which harms health, especially for children and older people.

Raised by: Official data · Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (data from Defra and UKHSA)Council plans
+1 morePortsmouth International Port (council-owned)

The issue in five minutes

The problem
Share of adult deaths linked to fine particle air pollution: 4.9% (2024), 0.35 percentage points lower than England (5.3%), calculated from unrounded figures. Affects: People living or walking along main roads, children, older people and those with heart or lung conditions.
3 related measures
  • 28 µg/m³ Annual nitrogen dioxide at London Road (2025)
  • 749 million vehicle miles Motor traffic on the city's roads (2025)
  • 55.6 per resident Bus journeys per person (2024/25; 7 per resident per year lower than England (62.6))

Different measures, sources and periods: shown together, not ranked against each other.

Who says so
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (data from Defra and UKHSA); Department for Transport.
What’s being done
  • Bus Service Improvement PlanDeliver the Bus Service Improvement Plan through the Enhanced Partnership: bus priority and bus-lane surfacing, extra services, enforcement of bus lanes, bus signal priority and upgraded “Super Stop” shelters.Lead Portsmouth City Council In progress · evidence 10 November 2026
    Funded by
    • Funded by Department for Transport £48,300,000 · £13m revenue and £35.3m capital, confirmed April 2022
  • Transforming Cities Fund: Portsmouth and South East HampshireDeliver the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire transport package, including bus priority, junction and walking improvements, with £55.6 million from the Department for Transport.Lead Portsmouth City Council In progress · evidence September 2026
    Funded by
    • Funded by Department for Transport £55,600,000 · Towards a £101.7m package across Portsmouth and South East Hampshire
    • Funded by Councils, bus operators and borough councils Match funding · Match funding for the rest of the package
Show the other 1
  • Sea ChangeInstall shore power so ferries and cruise ships can switch off their engines at berth, serving up to three ships at once.Lead Portsmouth City Council (port) Completed · evidence 17 October 2026
    Funded by
    • Funded by Department for Transport £19,800,000 · Grant towards shore power
    • Funded by Portsmouth City Council £4,600,000 · Council contribution
    • Funded by Portsmouth City Council £3,000,000 · Separate payment to secure grid power

All 9 official commitments on this issue → · funding and delivery in the tracker →

What is still missing
2 items not yet published or reported

Not yet published for the work above:

  • The full 2026 Annual Status Report on air quality (only a summary is published; the full report is available on request)
  • Shore power use: ship connections, electricity supplied and emissions avoided
Facts Count suggestion
Proposed by Facts Count Measure what cleaner shipping and transport actually deliver. Not costed. A suggestion, shown after the official response.
How we’ll know
Share of adult deaths linked to fine particle air pollution, compared over 3 years.

1 · The issue

What the evidence says

Who is affected: People living or walking along main roads, children, older people and those with heart or lung conditions.

  • Opportunity Shore power can cut emissions while ships are berthed. The port says Sea Change is live, allowing connected vessels to use electricity instead of running engines at berth. Its estimated annual carbon saving from 2027 is a forecast. Actual electricity use, connected calls and measured emissions should show whether the promise is met. In context →

2 · The evidence

The figures

4.9%

Share of adult deaths linked to fine particle air pollution City 2024 Office for Health Improvement and… ↗ · retrieved 9 Nov 2026

0.35 percentage points lower than England (5.3%), calculated from unrounded figures.

Share of adult deaths linked to fine particle air pollution

2018 to 2024

Portsmouth · %

Reviewed figures: 2018 to 2024.

Shown on this chart: From 2018 to 2024, share of adult deaths linked to fine particle air pollution fell by 4.2 percentage points in Portsmouth and fell by 1.8 percentage points in England.

Both places compared over 2018 to 2024, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.

Actual values

PortsmouthEngland

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

Source: Office for Health Improvement and… ↗ · retrieved 9 Nov 2026

Improving Down 4.2 percentage points since 2018 (9.1%).

How change is judged

Share of adult deaths linked to fine particle air pollution: down 1.2 percentage points between 2021 and 2024.

Rule: Standard deviation of the six year-to-year changes, 2018 to 2024 (0.45 percentage points). The estimate is modelled from pollution maps and national risk factors, so it moves with national methods as well as local air.

Starts in 2018. An earlier Fingertips indicator (30101, 2010 onwards) used a different method; it is no longer served by the Fingertips data API and is not joined to this series.

Same period, other places (2024)
  • Portsmouth4.9%
  • Southampton4.9%
  • Chichester4.5%
  • Winchester4.6%
  • South East5.1%
  • England5.3%

Comparators: the nearest cities and the most similar places, with England.

More trends for this issue (3)

Motor traffic on the city's roads

1996 to 2025

Portsmouth · million vehicle miles

Reviewed figures: 1993 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: From 1996 to 2025, motor traffic on the city's roads rose by 4.2% in Portsmouth and rose by 23.9% in England.

Both places compared over 1996 to 2025, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.

Change since 1996 (%)

PortsmouthEngland

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

Source: Department for Transport ↗ · retrieved 9 Nov 2026

DfT says local authority traffic estimates are not as robust as national figures because of the small sample of minor-road counts, and must be treated with caution.

Bus journeys per person

2009/10 to 2024/25

Portsmouth · journeys per resident per year

Reviewed figures: 2009/10 to 2024/25.

Shown on this chart: From 2009/10 to 2024/25, bus journeys per person rose by 5.7% in Portsmouth and fell by 29.2% in England.

Both places compared over 2009/10 to 2024/25, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.

Actual values

PortsmouthEngland

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

Source: Department for Transport ↗ · retrieved 9 Nov 2026

Journeys are counted where they happen, so visitors and commuters are included, but the population used for 'per head' is residents only (DfT note 3).

Adults who cycle at least once a week

2016 to 2023

Portsmouth · %

Reviewed figures: 2016 to 2023.

Shown on this chart: From 2016 to 2023, adults who cycle at least once a week fell by 3.4 percentage points in Portsmouth and fell by 1.8 percentage points in England.

Both places compared over 2016 to 2023, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.

Actual values

PortsmouthEngland

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

Source: Department for Transport (data from Sport… ↗ · retrieved 9 Nov 2026

This is a survey estimate. A few hundred Portsmouth residents answer each year, so the range shown (95% confidence interval) is several percentage points wide.

Related measures

  • 28 µg/m³ Annual nitrogen dioxide at London Road Wider area 2025 · Nitrogen dioxide at London Road, a council monitoring site.
  • 749 million vehicle miles Motor traffic on the city's roads City 2025 · Motor traffic on the city’s roads.
  • 55.6 per resident Bus journeys per person City 2024/25 · 7 per resident per year lower than England (62.6) · Bus use per person.
  • 13.3% Adults who cycle at least once a week City 2023 · 3.2 percentage points higher than England (10.1%) · Adults who cycle at least once a week (survey).

All the Portsmouth figures for this issue

Latest national releases (1)

Renewable energy and storage projects in the planning system · Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD): July 2026 (CSV)

Which renewable energy and battery projects of 150 kW or more are proposed, consented, being built or operating in Portsmouth?

ProjectTypeMWStatusPlanning reference
Portsmouth ERF · VeoliaEfW Incineration14Operational (consented 15/10/2001)A*29026/AF
Paulsgrove Landfill Site · Associated Energy Projects plcLandfill Gas2.4Operational (consented 29/07/1996)—
MMD Shipping Services · EvoEnergySolar Photovoltaics1.2Operational (consented 12/09/2014)14/00830/FUL
Lakeside Business Park · Custom Solar LimitedSolar Photovoltaics4.5Under Construction (consented 01/11/2022)22/00487/FUL
Lakeside Business Park · Custom Solar LimitedBattery2Under Construction (consented 01/11/2022)22/00487/FUL
Portsmouth International Port - Solar Panels · Portsmouth City CouncilSolar Photovoltaics1.2Under Construction (consented 20/06/2023)21/00717/FUL
Farlington Water Treatment Works, Gillman Road - Solar Panels · Portsmouth Water LimitedSolar Photovoltaics3.68Awaiting Construction (consented 25/11/2022)22/01237/CPL
Harwin Engineers - Solar Panels · Harwin EngineersSolar Photovoltaics0.89Awaiting Construction (consented 12/05/2026)26/00336/PA
Queen Alexandra Hospital, Southwick Hill Road - Solar Panels · Equans Services LimitedSolar Photovoltaics0.87Awaiting Construction (consented 15/01/2026)25/01206/PA
Trafalgar Wharf Hamilton Road - Solar Panels · Trafalgar Workspaces LimitedSolar Photovoltaics0.7Awaiting Construction (consented 23/05/2022)22/00470/PN
Gunwharf Quays Shopping Centre - Solar Panels · Land Securities Properties LimitedSolar Photovoltaics0.64Awaiting Construction (consented 19/06/2023)22/01741/FUL
Broad Oak Works, Airport Service Road - Solar Panels · BAE SystemsSolar Photovoltaics0.57Awaiting Construction (consented 31/01/2023)22/01751/PA
Sainsburys, Fitzherbert Road - Solar Panels · Sainsburys Supermarkets LimitedSolar Photovoltaics0.54Awaiting Construction (consented 20/02/2025)25/00013/PA
Queen Alexandra Hospital, Southwick Hill Road - Solar Canopy · Queen Alexandra Hospitals TrustSolar Photovoltaics0.54Awaiting Construction (consented 03/02/2026)25/01399/CPL
St Marys Hospital, Milton Road - Solar Panels · Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustSolar Photovoltaics0.46Awaiting Construction (consented 23/03/2026)26/00105/FUL
SGN, Walton Park - Solar Panels · Southern Gas NetworksSolar Photovoltaics0.29Awaiting Construction (consented 07/02/2023)23/00011/PA
Mountbatten Centre, Twyford Avenue - Solar Panels · Portsmouth City CouncilSolar Photovoltaics0.27Awaiting Construction (consented 12/05/2023)23/00347/PA
David Lloyd Club, The Boardwalk - Solar Panels · David Lloyd Leisure LimitedSolar Photovoltaics0.27Awaiting Construction (consented 12/10/2023)23/00908/PN
Phoenix Healthcare, Jackson Close - Solar Panels · Phoenix MedicalSolar Photovoltaics0.24Awaiting Construction (consented 10/03/2025)24/01526/PN
Warehouse, Gunstore Road - Solar Panels · Tomburn LimitedSolar Photovoltaics0.18Awaiting Construction (consented 13/01/2023)22/01664/PA
Castle View Academy, Allaway Avenue - Solar Panels · Solar Options for Schools LimitedSolar Photovoltaics0.18Awaiting Construction (consented 15/06/2026)26/00441/PA
Big Yellow Self Storage, Rodney Road - Solar Panels · Big Yellow Group PlcSolar Photovoltaics0.17Awaiting Construction (consented 26/10/2022)22/00014/PA
Ark Charter Academy, Hyde Park Road - Solar Panels · Solar Options for Schools LimitedSolar Photovoltaics0.16Awaiting Construction (consented 15/07/2025)25/00554/PA
St James Hospital Solent Nhs Trust, Locksway Road - Energy Centre · Solent NHS TrustBattery—Awaiting Construction (consented 06/12/2022)22/01343/FUL
Fort Widley, Portsdown Hill Road - Battery Energy Storage System · Voltwise Power Holdings LimitedBattery120Application Submitted25/00797/FUL
St Marys Hospital, Milton Road -Solar Panels · Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation TrustSolar Photovoltaics0.46Application Submitted25/01352/PA
Venture Park, Limberline Road - Solar Panels · PolarkoldSolar Photovoltaics—Application Submitted26/00554/PA
Harwin, Marshland Spur - Solar Panels · Harwin LimitedSolar Photovoltaics0.46Application Refused25/01368/PA
Harwin Engineers - Solar Panels · Harwin EngineersSolar Photovoltaics0.93Revised25/01367/PA
Venture Park, Limberline Road - Solar Panels · PolarkoldSolar Photovoltaics—Revised26/00110/PA
Source and limits
  • Covers projects of 150 kW and above that need planning permission; small rooftop systems are not included.
  • The database can lag operators’ own announcements; a status is as at the extract date.
  • Battery power (MW) is not storage capacity (MWh).

Renewable Energy Planning Database: quarterly extract ↗; retrieved 2026-11-10. Data (JSON)

3 · What residents say

Residents’ evidence

0 surveys

Council consultation: 35% of 1,698 respondents put “improving transport systems and journey times in the city and prioritising sustainable travel” in their top five priorities for the council (rank 4 of the published five; 16 August to 14 September 2025; people chose to take part). This option is broader than this issue, so it is shown as a related priority, not a direct measure of concern about it. How residents ranked priorities →

Not yet known: No published survey of Portsmouth residents asks about this issue directly. General concern about an issue does not show support for any particular proposal.

All residents’ survey results →

4 · Who is acting

Official commitments and projects

9 official commitments · 8 with dated evidence

Formal commitments by public bodies, with their original decision. Stages without dated evidence are hatched, never filled.

Committed by Portsmouth City Council Not verified

Corporate Plan 2024-2026

Continue to lobby and work with partners to improve air and water quality and city biodiversity.

ApprovedFundedUnder wayCompleted

No dated evidence of progress has been found; stages are shown hatched.

Who pays, key dates and what is missing

Funded by: not stated in the record.

Made October 2024 · due 2026 · Corporate Plan 2024-2026 (Council Plan 2024) ↗

3 dated records
  1. 21 July 2026 outcome Carbon Action Plans reported to Cabinet for information: council emissions of 7,885 tonnes CO2e in 2024/25, Scope 1 and 2 about 60% below 2012/13; city emissions down 52% since 2005. source ↗
  2. 1 October 2026 outcome Air quality annual status report (information only): in 2025 one diffusion tube exceeded the annual nitrogen dioxide limit (Alfred Road, 41.86 µg/m³, kerbside, not a place of relevant public exposure, so no new management area); 225 of 228 tubes show a downward trend over 2021-2025. source ↗
  3. 10 November 2026 output The council’s water quality page describes two solar-powered LED signs on Eastney seafront, red if sewage was released in the last 48 hours, Environment Agency warning signs at Southsea East, and Yellow Fish drain markers, working with Southern Water and the Environment Agency. source ↗

Committed by Portsmouth City Council (port) Completed

Sea Change

Install shore power so ferries and cruise ships can switch off their engines at berth, serving up to three ships at once.

ApprovedFundedUnder wayCompleted

Status evidence, 17 October 2026: Sea Change shore power ↗

Who pays, key dates and what is missing
Funded by
  • Funded by Department for Transport £19,800,000 · Grant towards shore power
  • Funded by Portsmouth City Council £4,600,000 · Council contribution
  • Funded by Portsmouth City Council £3,000,000 · Separate payment to secure grid power; not part of the £24.4m construction subtotal

Made October 2024 · £24,400,000 (£19.8m Department for Transport plus £4.6m council, as stated in the port’s go-live news; the council’s separate grid payment is excluded) · Corporate Plan 2024-2026 (Council Plan 2024) ↗

1 dated record
  1. 24 July 2026 output Ferries and cruise ships began plugging into the port’s shore power system; three ships at once was expected later in 2026. source ↗
Show the other 6 official commitments

Committed by Portsmouth City Council Approved

Portsmouth Transport Strategy (Local Transport Plan 4)

Deliver a ranked, provisional programme of transport schemes for 2026/27 to 2029/30 under the Transport Implementation Plan, with an outline to 2038.

ApprovedFundedUnder wayCompleted

Status evidence, July 2026: Local Transport Plan 4 page: implementation plan adopted July 2026 ↗

Who pays, key dates and what is missing

Funded by: not stated in the record.

Made July 2026 · due 2030 · Local Transport Plan 4: Transport Implementation Plan (adopted July 2026) ↗

1 dated record
  1. 1 July 2026 milestone Cabinet Member for Transport approved the updated Transport Implementation Plan and the Portsmouth part of a combined regional delivery plan, with a four-year government settlement of £46,524,266 (£37,618,190 capital, £8,906,076 revenue). Some area schemes remain at feasibility stage. source ↗

Committed by Portsmouth City Council Approved

Originally proposed by Labour group amendment Proposal and vote →

Capital programme 2026/27: schemes added by amendment

Deliver four schemes added to the 2026/27 capital programme: a raised zebra crossing on Lawrence Road, traffic calming on Highbury Grove, five deployable CCTV cameras for Charles Dickens ward and more accessible play equipment.

ApprovedFundedUnder wayCompleted

Status evidence, 24 February 2026: Full Council, 24 February 2026, minute 10: Budget and Council Tax 2026/27 (recorded votes) ↗

Who pays, key dates and what is missing
Funded by
  • Funded by Portsmouth City Council (capital programme) moved within budget: £211,000 · Capital, 2026/27, moved from other schemes
  • Funded by Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy Match funding · The rest of the £120,000 Lawrence Road crossing

Made 24 February 2026 · £211,000 (Reallocated within the capital programme; the Lawrence Road crossing also draws on neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy) · Full Council, 24 February 2026: minutes with Appendices 1 to 3 (budget amendments), confirmed on 17 March 2026 ↗

Committed by Portsmouth City Council Approved

Originally proposed by Conservative group amendment Proposal and vote →

Capital programme 2026/27: schemes added by amendment

Deliver seven small schemes added to the 2026/27 capital programme, including Anchorage Lodge refurbishment, security shutters at Drayton Park and a one-way feasibility study for Kensington Road and Chelmsford Road.

ApprovedFundedUnder wayCompleted

Status evidence, 24 February 2026: Full Council, 24 February 2026, minute 10: Budget and Council Tax 2026/27 (recorded votes) ↗

Who pays, key dates and what is missing
Funded by
  • Funded by Portsmouth City Council (capital programme) moved within budget: £56,500 · Capital, 2026/27, moved from other schemes

Made 24 February 2026 · £56,500 (Reallocated within the capital programme) · Full Council, 24 February 2026: minutes with Appendices 1 to 3 (budget amendments), confirmed on 17 March 2026 ↗

Committed by Portsmouth City Council In progress

Transforming Cities Fund: Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

Deliver the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire transport package, including bus priority, junction and walking improvements, with £55.6 million from the Department for Transport.

ApprovedFundedUnder wayCompleted

Status evidence, September 2026: Transforming Cities Fund Portsmouth ↗

Who pays, key dates and what is missing
Funded by
  • Funded by Department for Transport £55,600,000 · Towards a £101.7m package across Portsmouth and South East Hampshire
  • Funded by Councils, bus operators and borough councils Match funding · Match funding for the rest of the package

Made 28 September 2020 · £55,600,000 (Department for Transport award towards a £101.7 million package, with match funding from the councils, bus operators and borough councils) · Transforming Cities Fund ↗

1 dated record
  1. 2024 spend Hampshire County Council reports the local schemes it delivered by 2024 cost £22.3 million; seven schemes are listed as completed. source ↗

Committed by Portsmouth City Council In progress

Bus Service Improvement Plan

Deliver the Bus Service Improvement Plan through the Enhanced Partnership: bus priority and bus-lane surfacing, extra services, enforcement of bus lanes, bus signal priority and upgraded “Super Stop” shelters.

ApprovedFundedUnder wayCompleted

Status evidence, 17 September 2026: LTP4 Annual Monitoring Report 2025/26 (Cabinet Member for Transport, 17 September 2026) ↗

Who pays, key dates and what is missing
Funded by
  • Funded by Department for Transport £48,300,000 · £13m revenue and £35.3m capital, confirmed April 2022

Made April 2022 · £48,300,000 (Department for Transport funding confirmed April 2022 (£13m revenue, £35.3m capital), as stated on the council’s BSIP page) · Bus Service Improvement Plan ↗

2 dated records
  1. March 2026 output The council’s monitoring report describes red surfacing as largely delivered and 20 of 27 Super Stops installed by March 2026, fewer than the tracker’s planned 29. source ↗
  2. 10 November 2026 output The council’s delivery tracker marks bus-lane red surfacing, extra services and bus-lane enforcement (enforcement officers and tow-away) as complete, and plans 29 Super Stop shelters. Bus signal priority was delayed and planned for September 2026. source ↗

Committed by Portsmouth City Council Approved

Highways PFI expiry and future services

Plan how highway maintenance will be provided when the 25-year highways PFI contract ends on 31 March 2030, through a dedicated programme team, with a full options paper (costs and risks) due at Cabinet in spring 2027.

ApprovedFundedUnder wayCompleted

Status evidence, 27 October 2026: Decision details: PFI Expiry and Future Services Programme Update ↗

Who pays, key dates and what is missing
Funded by
  • Funded by Portsmouth City Council £3,800,000 · Phased programme budget 2024/25 to 2029/30; only 2025/26 and 2026/27 confirmed

Made 27 October 2026 · due 31 March 2030 · Cabinet, 27 October 2026: PFI Expiry and Future Services Programme Update (report) ↗

Every action on this issue, including other organisations and political proposals, in the explorer →

Signals from the latest official data

Signals from the latest official data

Computed automatically from each new national release by a fixed rule, then linked to the actions on the same issue. A signal is not an editorial finding; reviewed findings are listed separately.

OpportunityComputed signal · Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD): July 2026

Consented renewable projects not yet built

18 renewable or battery projects in Portsmouth have planning consent but had not started construction (Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD): July 2026), totalling 10.6 MW where capacity is stated; 10 were submitted three or more years ago.

Rule: Three or more projects marked “awaiting construction” in the latest planning database extract. Limit: The database can lag operators’ own announcements; a status is as at the extract date. Source ↗

Action plan for this signal: 9 official actions, 4 other projects, 2 Facts Count proposals

Whether these actions are enough is not judged automatically. See Air pollution and traffic for the evidence and outcome measure.

Projects by other organisations

In the city · portCompleted

Sea Change: shore power at Portsmouth International Port

Ferries and cruise ships can switch off their engines at berth and plug into shore electricity.

Whose project
Run by Portsmouth International Port (council-owned)
Stage
Live by 30 July 2026, with first ferry and cruise connections during final commissioning; three ships at once expected later in 2026. (30 July 2026, Shore power goes live at Portsmouth Port ↗)
Where, funding and what would show it worked
Where
Portsmouth International Port · Port in the city.
Funding
  • Funded by Department for Transport (zero-emission vessels competition) Grant: £19.8m · Construction grant source ↗
  • Funded by Portsmouth City Council Council capital: £4.6m · Construction contribution source ↗
  • Funded by Portsmouth City Council Council capital: £3m · Separate payment to secure grid power source ↗
Part of Portsmouth International Port projects; amounts are not added across the programme.
What would show it worked
Output: Ship connections and electricity supplied. Outcome: Emissions avoided and nitrogen dioxide near the port.
Next check
Connections and electricity supplied in the port’s reports.
In the city · energyUnder way

Lakeside North Harbour solar and battery

Rooftop and car-park canopy solar with battery storage at the council-owned business park.

Whose project
Run by Portsmouth City Council with Custom Solar Limited
Stage
Consented 1 November 2022 (4.5 MW solar, 2 MW battery, 22/00487/FUL). The planning database still shows “under construction” from a record last updated in October 2023; council news reports 8,545 panels installed, but that page could not be opened. (1 October 2023, Renewable Energy Planning Database: July 2026 ↗)
Where, funding and what would show it worked
Where
Lakeside North Harbour, Cosham · In the city.
Funding
No funding published.
What would show it worked
Output: Electricity generated. Outcome: Annual generation and carbon saved.
Next check
A dated completion record and measured generation.

Note: Cost not published.

In the city · energyCompleted

Portsmouth International Port solar panels

About 2,200 solar panels (1.2 MW) on the port, separate from Sea Change shore power.

Whose project
Run by Portsmouth International Port (council-owned)
Stage
Operating; the port reported it met 21% of site demand over the past year and saved £138,058 since 2023/24 (the savings period is not clear). (24 July 2025, Portsmouth port saves nearly £140,000 in electricity costs thanks to solar ↗)
Where, funding and what would show it worked
Where
Portsmouth International Port · Port in the city.
Funding
No funding published. Part of Portsmouth International Port projects; amounts are not added across the programme.
What would show it worked
Output: Share of site demand met: 21%.
Next check
Next annual report from the port.
Show the other 1 projects
In the city · energyUnder way

Queen Alexandra Hospital solar panels

Rooftop solar and a solar canopy at Queen Alexandra Hospital, funded by two national awards (the second also covers Fareham Renal Dialysis Unit).

Whose project
Run by Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust with Equans
Stage
Consented: QA rooftop 0.87 MW (granted 15 January 2026) and QA canopy 0.54 MW (granted 3 February 2026), awaiting construction in the July 2026 database. The Fareham installation was completed in March 2026. (12 March 2026, Solar panels successfully installed at Fareham Renal Dialysis Unit ↗)
Where, funding and what would show it worked
Where
Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham (and Fareham Renal Dialysis Unit, outside the city) · Most of the work is in the city; Fareham is outside it.
Funding
  • Funded by National NHS funding Award: £1.15m · Initial award for the QA site source ↗
  • Funded by National NHS funding Award: £1.7m · Further award covering QA and Fareham Renal Dialysis Unit; split by site not published source ↗
What would show it worked
Output: Panels installed at QA. Outcome: Electricity generated and bills saved.
Next check
QA installation completion.

Local projects

5 · What could change

Proposals

2 proposals

Facts Count proposals are suggestions, labelled as ours. Stages are a suggested sequence, not deadlines.

Proposed by Facts Count

Measure what cleaner shipping and transport actually deliver

Publish how often ships use the new shore power, how much electricity they take and what emissions are avoided, and report nearby air quality and the Pompey Link bus pilot, so results can be judged against forecasts.

EstimateAllocatedSpentUnknown

Proposed lead: Portsmouth City Council (proposed; as port owner, air quality authority and local transport authority)

First step: Write to the port asking which shore power usage figures it already collects and could publish in aggregate.

Issue: Air pollution and traffic

Proposed by Facts Count

Join up safe cycle routes across Portsea Island

Check how the city’s cycle routes, new crossings and rebuilt seafront paths connect, publish the gaps and dangerous junctions, and fix the most important ones in order, measuring use and safety before and after.

EstimateAllocatedSpentUnknown

Proposed lead: Portsmouth City Council (proposed; as local highway and transport authority)

First step: Publish a simple map showing which existing and newly built cycle routes connect and where they stop, using records the council already holds.

Issue: Air pollution and traffic

Proposals and votes by parties, councillors and MPs

What others have proposed on this issue and what happened to it. A pledge or campaign is not a decision.

Budget amendmentAdopted

Labour group amendment to the 2026/27 capital programme

Proposed by
Proposed by Labour group Cllr Charlotte Gerada
Where and when
Full Council budget meeting, 24 February 2026
What was proposed
Add four local schemes to the 2026/27 capital programme: a raised zebra crossing on Lawrence Road (£90,000 towards a £120,000 scheme, the rest from neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy), traffic calming on Highbury Grove (£56,000), five deployable CCTV cameras for Charles Dickens ward (£35,000), and £30,000 more for play equipment, taking accessible play improvements to £80,000.
Who can deliver it
Portsmouth City Council
The money
Capital, £211,000 in total. Paid for by moving £201,000 from the City Centre Road scheme and £10,000 from the DLTC Urban Spaces inclusive design budget, so no new money was added.
Outcome
26 for · 0 against · 15 abstained (counted from the named votes)
What has happened since
Written into the capital programme the council approved the same evening (final budget carried, 31 for, none against, 9 abstentions). No report on whether the four schemes have been built has been found. Full Council, 24 February 2026, minute 10: Budget and Council Tax 2026/27 (recorded votes) ↗ Tracked under Portsmouth City Council →

Source: Full Council, 24 February 2026: minutes with Appendices 1 to 3 (budget amendments), confirmed on 17 March 2026 ↗, Appendix 2, tables i) and ii), pack pages 29-30. Checked 10 November 2026.

Budget amendmentAdopted

Conservative group amendment to the 2026/27 capital programme

Proposed by
Proposed by Conservative group Cllr Simon Bosher
Where and when
Full Council budget meeting, 24 February 2026
What was proposed
Add seven small schemes to the 2026/27 capital programme: redecoration and refurbishment at Anchorage Lodge (£20,000), repairs and security shutters at Drayton Park (£14,500), a feasibility study for a one-way system on Kensington Road and Chelmsford Road (£6,000), benches on Allaway Avenue (£5,000), a dog gate at College Park (£5,000), bollards at Canoe Lake (£5,000) and a bin at the Drayton Road shops (£1,000).
Who can deliver it
Portsmouth City Council
The money
Capital, £56,500 in total. Paid for by reducing the Horsea Lane allotments toilet (£10,000), Southsea Rose Gardens (£10,000), Cumberland House museum (£10,000) and City Centre Road (£26,500) budgets.
Outcome
17 for · 0 against · 24 abstained (counted from the named votes)
What has happened since
Written into the capital programme the council approved the same evening. No report on whether the schemes have been delivered has been found. Full Council, 24 February 2026, minute 10: Budget and Council Tax 2026/27 (recorded votes) ↗ Tracked under Portsmouth City Council →

Source: Full Council, 24 February 2026: minutes with Appendices 1 to 3 (budget amendments), confirmed on 17 March 2026 ↗, Appendix 3, tables i) and ii), pack pages 31-32. Checked 10 November 2026.

Election pledgeNot a decision

Portsmouth Labour local election pledges 2026

Proposed by
Proposed by Portsmouth Labour
Where and when
Local election pledges, published 19 April 2026
What was proposed
Build more genuinely affordable homes, including social housing; continue to challenge the spread of HMOs to keep communities mixed and balanced; more council-owned temporary accommodation; cheaper and more frequent buses; hardship support; more CCTV and accessible play equipment.
Who can deliver it
Portsmouth City Council, with bus operators for bus services
The money
No costs given.
Outcome
Election pledge: not put to a council vote.
What has happened since
A pledge, not a decision. CCTV and accessible play also appear in Labour’s budget amendment adopted on 24 February 2026, before the pledges were published.

Source: Portsmouth Labour Local Election Pledges 2026 ↗, “A home for everyone” and “Better travel for everyone across our city”. Checked 10 November 2026.

Show the other 1 proposals and votes
Manifesto proposalNot a decision

Green Party: redesign the bus map

Proposed by
Proposed by Portsmouth Green Party
Where and when
Portsmouth Green Party manifesto, section 4 · 8 April 2026
What was proposed
Redesign the bus map to serve where people work and learn, including Portsmouth College, Anchorage Park and the International Port. The manifesto’s stated long-term aim is a publicly owned bus network.
Who can deliver it
Portsmouth City Council with the bus operators in the Enhanced Partnership
The money
No costs given.
Outcome
Manifesto proposal: not put to a council vote.
What has happened since
A manifesto proposal, not a decision.

Source: Our Manifesto ↗, Section 4, “the public transport revolution”: Route Rescue. Checked 10 November 2026.

All proposals and votes →

6 · How we’ll know

What would show progress

Improving
  • Outcome: Share of adult deaths linked to fine particle air pollution, latest against 3 years earlier; changes smaller than 0.45 are treated as no clear change. Now: improving.
  • Measure what cleaner shipping and transport actually deliver: Share of eligible ship calls that connected to shore power; Electricity supplied to ships (MWh) and estimated CO2e avoided; Annual mean NO2 and PM2.5 at monitoring sites nearest the port; Pompey Link passengers and net cost per passenger journey.
  • Join up safe cycle routes across Portsea Island: Adults cycling at least once a week; Pedal cyclist casualties, killed or seriously injured (severity-adjusted); Completed connected links; Cycle counts on improved links.

What is not yet known

  • The full 2026 Annual Status Report on air quality (only a summary is published; the full report is available on request) (another source needed)
  • Shore power use: ship connections, electricity supplied and emissions avoided (not published)

Cost of living is featured by editorial choice. Other issues follow the order respondents gave the council in its 2025 budget consultation, a survey people chose to take part in; it describes respondents, not all residents.