The Southsea Coastal Scheme project team finished putting in new handrails along the promenade at Centenary Place in Portsmouth, Hampshire, on 6 March 2026. These new rails are meant to help people walk safely along Southsea Common, especially for those who find it hard to get around or when the weather is bad. This is part of the larger work being done to upgrade the seafront.
The handrails are part of a project costing more than £185 million that will help protect the city from flooding. The scheme stretches across 4.5 kilometres of the coast and aims to keep over 10,000 homes and 700 businesses safe from the sea. A weekly update from the team shows that the rails are one of the many small changes being made to improve the area for the public.
This section of the work at Southsea Common is expected to be finished later in 2026. According to official project records, the redevelopment also includes new paving, seating, and lighting for the public to enjoy. The goal is to make the seafront a better place to visit while also making it much safer.
Portsmouth City Council is in charge of the project, with Coastal Partners managing the day-to-day work and the building firm VolkerStevin doing the construction. The project is split into different parts to keep disruption as low as possible for local people. While these handrails are now ready to use, other work continues nearby to finish the new defences.
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