Mitigating Heavy Rainfall and Flooding Risks in Portsmouth

Portsmouth, a city with limited land area and strong maritime heritage, faces challenges in flood risk management, land use, and public transport. To address these issues, the Portsmouth City Council has developed a Surface Water Management Plan and Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. The city also aims to improve housing needs through its New Local Plan and Solent Local Growth deal. Additionally, the Master Transportation Plan aims to create an integrated multi-modal transport system. Recommendations include proactive communication, community participation, and sustainable solutions for land use and flood management.

Urban Planning Law- City of Portsmouth, Virginia

Table of contents
Introduction…………………………………………………… 3
Background Of the Research………………………………… 3
Objective……………………………………………………….5
Analysis……………………………………………………….. 5
Recommendations…………………………………………….. 8
Conclusion……………………………………………………..9
References…………………………………………………….. 9

Introduction
This Research Paper proposes to analyse the planning issues in the City of Portsmouth,
Virginia. It intends to focus upon the prevailing long pending issues like trouble creating
flood zones of Portsmouth due to a poor drainage system, improper land use that has
brought down the quality of public space, walk ability and connectivity, the present
modes of transit available in the city and problems related to the same.
Background of the Research
History of Portsmouth
Founded in 1180, the first charter that granted the residents certain rights was issued in
1194, but became constituted as a town by virtue of an act passed by the General
Assembly of Virginia, in 1752 under the guidance of Colonel William Crawford.
Growth started with the advent of the first paid water supply system in 1811, the streets
were lighted using gas lights by 1820 and transportation across the city became easy. By
the end of the 20th century, tourism started flourishing and as on date, electrical and
electronic industries are the major employment providers.
Key issues in urban planning in Portsmouth
1. Population and Housing: Portsmouth’s population has met with significant changes,
today’s population stands at 213000, is expected to touch 238000 by 2036. To meet
out the increasing housing needs from various strata of population that ranges from
students to older generation and to avoid more concentration in Houses in Multiple
Occupations (HMOs), focus is required upon supporting mixed and balanced

communities, providing affordable dwelling options, meeting specific accommodation
needs option and accommodation needs of travelling communities and student
segment.
2. Promoting Regeneration : Areas in Portsmouth that have been affected badly by
contamination from military, industrial, landfill and other uses and areas with poor
urban design need to be regenerated with new road layout and environmental
improvements, in order to prevent redevelopment to other uses.
3. Local Economy : Promoting new employment lands that are easily accessible so as to
favour economic growth and investment, under-represented businesses like insurance,
finance, retail and construction , addressing the infrastructure development needs of
city centre and the needs of rapidly growing marine and maritime industries, is
solicited.
4. Wellness and Open space: Maintaining open and green spaces, play grounds,
providing a greener infrastructure with street lights and transport facilities would help
in tackling poor health and deprivation issues.
5. Heritage: Formulating relevant policies for conserving and enhancing the maritime
heritage assets of Portsmouth, optimising the potential of various sites so as to
accommodate development, performing an Integrated Water Management study to
ensure smooth supply of water and waste water management are the areas of focus
here.
6. Natural Environment: Portsmouth has a rich diversity of flora and fauna,
protecting this biodiversity and habitats, ensuring the planned level of
development ,combating the climate change protects the natural environment.

7. Transport : Developing transport infrastructure and schemes that aid in reducing air
and noise pollutions, the high level of pedestrian casualties, providing better
parking facilities and rail services are the need of the hour.
Objectives of the Research
Having explained those key issues in city planning confronted by Portsmouth, this
research aims at discussing the issues faced in particular, due to floods, improper land use
and public transport, the probable reasons for these issues, the effects these issues are
likely to create upon day to day living of a common man in Portsmouth, the steps taken
by the city council in addressing these issues and recommendations if any , that would
provide for better solutions.
Analysis
Floods in Portsmouth
Scenario: Being shaped historically in such a way so as to maintain a relationship with
the sea, flooding is one of the foremost natural challenges faced by Portsmouth. Around
12500 residential and 1000 commercial properties are low lying, located at tidal flood
risk zone, exposed to surface water flooding.
Flood risk issues in Portsmouth could be attributed to:
Pluvial flooding due to high intensity rainfall
Coastal flooding due to failure of infrastructure
Water over topping due to weather conditions and excessive shipping movements
Coastal squeeze due to coastal erosion
Ground water flooding due to heavy rainfall
Interactions between different types of flooding and raising sea levels.

Action taken: In compliance with the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, the
Portsmouth City Council has adopted a Surface Water Management Plan and Local
Flood Risk Management Strategy. It proposes to improve the knowledge of general
public , thereby creating awareness on flood risks, work in tandem with stakeholders who
play a role in flood risk management, formulate an action plan for developing relevant
schemes, infrastructure to support them, people for delivering the same and a funding
plan to implement all of the above. Various departments of Portsmouth City Council like
PCC Planning , PCC Flood Risk Strategy Group, PCC Sea front management, PCC
Drainage team work together in investigating flood incidents and formulating
emergency plans to combat the same.
Land use in Portsmouth
Scenario: Located along the south coast, Portsmouth is the only flat and extremely low
lying island in the area. While the major contribution to its economy comes from its
strong maritime heritage and tourism sector, the growth in the same could be attributed to
its geographical location and relationship with the sea.
Land use in Portsmouth is a challenging issue owing to the following reasons:
Portsmouth as a city has less than 16 square miles of land.
Land value in Portsmouth will always stay higher as the city excels in cultural,
historical, culinary reputation.
Its closeness to sea, businesses and employment opportunities generated and top
quality schools tend to increase the demand and hence land value.
Action taken: To combat the above issues, the New Local Plan of Portsmouth was
developed in 2012 that proposes to address housing needs, varying in terms of tenure and

size. Through the Solent Local Growth deal, the PCC has started developing islands of
Tipner and Horsea that would attract an investment of 831 million pounds. As
Portsmouth boasts more of terraced houses and Houses of Multiple Occupations
(HMOs), in order to promote family housing and support mixed and balanced
communities, the National Planning Policy Framework, in accordance with the Spatial
Strategy Position Statement SP1, proposes to follow a policy to meet out specific
housing needs.
Public transport in Portsmouth
Scenario: Founded for transport reasons, the harbour of Portsmouth soon grew into an
ideal place for ship construction and trade, making it the centre of highway, rail lines and
mass transit funnel.
The prevailing issues in public transport are as follows:
In Portsmouth, issues in land use and transportation go hand in hand and that’s
because all destinations are arranged in a compact manner.
Absence of compact land use patterns that favour walk ability.
Presence of more Single use developments that do not cater to the needs of road
transit pedestrian requirements, simultaneously.
The stops, routes and schedules of public buses are in poor co-ordination.
In the major urban corridors of the city, the presence of wide streets, driveways and
access points have led to high speed in vehicles, hence conflicts and crashes,
inhibiting pedestrian activity as well.
Roads have not been maintained and trucks fail to travel in their designated routes.
Pedestrian and bicyclers’ rights and alternative modes of transportation have not been
clearly defined.

Congestion at other East coast ports, diverts the traffic to Portsmouth causing issues.
Action taken: Subsequently, the Portsmouth Master Transportation Plan (MTP) was
formulated with a view to address the needs of all moving people, goods and information
in the form of integrated multi-modal transport ,render urban development , regional and
freight transportation in compliance with government standards without creating
congestion and impacting residents’ businesses.
Recommendations
1. Setting up a strong proactive communication system, with community participation in
decision making is the first step to confront untimely floods. Individuals can prepare a
personal flood plan, community flood plan and safe guard their property well in
advance with appropriate flood kits to confront floods. Investing more in flood
defences like construction of hills would be a better move.
2. Encouraging concept of Micro-housing- houses with 300 sqft, reducing surface
parking lots and reinstating the minimum parking requirements, adopting New
Urbanism that favours more open space and walk ability could provide sustainable
solutions to issues in land use.
3. Educating and creating awareness in general public by conducting road safety
campaigns, elaborating the benefits of electric vehicles, providing infrastructure for
charging network across the city and above all redevelopment of Portsmouth and
South Sea would do wonders.

Conclusion
Plans for the urban regeneration of Portsmouth is gaining momentum owing to the focus
upon the programme - Sustainable Portsmouth 2030 vision, revealing the importance
and need for city planning and aims at conserving the urban culture and heritage of
Portsmouth, preparing the city for climate change implications ,at the same time ensuring
convenient mobility in such a way that more public and walk able space is available in a
compact, mixed use city, achieving the same by actively engaging the citizens of the city
in the processes of decision making.
References
1. Fix Landscape problems and prevent floods in your home. [Web log post]Retrieved
November 24th 2017 from http://www.houserepairguides.com/fix-landscaping-
problems-prevent-flooding-home/
2. Portsmouth Master Transportation Plan. [Web log post] Retrieved November 24th
2017 from http://www.portsmouthva.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/931
3. Land Use Policy. [Web log post] Retrieved November 24th 2017 from
http://www.oneportsmouth.com/issues/land-use-policy/
4. Local plan issues and options consultation. [Web log post] Retrieved November 24th
2017 from https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/documents-external/lplan-issues-and-
options-paper-july-2017.pdf
5. The City Of Portsmouth. [Web log post] Retrieved November 24th 2017 from
https://www.portsmouthva.gov/181/Planning-Department