Portsmouth City Council has announced that a major part of the Southsea promenade in Portsmouth, Hampshire, will close starting March 2, 2026, to allow for essential flood protection work. This closure is expected to last until May 2027 as part of a larger project to protect the city from rising sea levels.
The work will take place on the stretch of seafront between Speakers’ Corner and South Parade Pier. This section is part of the Southsea Coastal Scheme, which is led by the council and managed by Coastal Partners.
Construction teams will raise the walkway by about half a metre and install new lighting, seating, and a two-way cycle lane. There will also be new plants and ramped access to the beach for visitors once the project is finished.
This phase follows work in late 2025 where more than 1 million tonnes of shingle were added to the beach to create a natural barrier. The entire project aims to keep over 10,000 homes and 700 businesses safe from coastal flooding for the next 100 years.
While the walkway will be closed to pedestrians and cyclists, the nearby A288 South Parade road will remain open for most of the construction. Local businesses along the seafront will also stay open, though there may be some short night-time road closures while work is carried out.
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