On 2nd July iPACT hosted the Southampton Port City forum at Bugle House with delegates from key stakeholders in the city.
The event started with a welcome from Prof William Powrie introducing the iPACT network aims. Then followed short presentations from Tom Dynes – Associated British Ports, Pete Boustred – Southampton City Council, Rebecca Kinge – Southampton Voluntary Services and Bakr Bahaj – University of Southampton. Southampton as a maritime gateway to the world offers opportunities as well as challenges for the city.
Challenges include:
- Port logistics and use of waterfront for cruise and container ships
- Congestion on key roads
- Security in the port
- Pollution and air quality
- Lack of public access to the waterfront
- Lack of local employment to retain university graduates
- Need for better tourism offers in the city
Access to nature is important to improve people’s health and wellbeing. Biodiversity net-gain regulations offer the opportunity to work with developers to create liveable city space, protect and improve current green & blue spaces. Southampton should be a destination city and offer better tourism and leisure for visitors, making the most of the heritage, arts and nature alongside retail and hospitality offerings. There are planned opportunities to reconnect Southampton with the waterfront, linked to proposed major developments including (i) relocation of some port activities (ii) new flood defences along the Itchen; (iii) relocation of West Quay Road, (iv) Maritime Gateway multi-use development.
Delegates spent time in working groups developing ideas for future projects and collaborations in themes of People, Place, Environment and Mobility.