The Minister for Coastal Communities Jake Berry MP has written to city MP Stephen Morgan to confirm Portsmouth has been successful with round 5 of the Coastal Communities Fund. The project in Stephen’s constituency will now progress to stage two (the final application phase).

The Portsmouth MP has been calling for the Government to provide greater funding to the city for infrastructure improvements and to boost jobs and economic growth.

Responding to the announcement Stephen Morgan MP said:

“I am delighted to learn that our city has been successful in being awarded a grant of £1.26m towards a project to regenerate the initial phase of Fort Cumberland in Eastney – a scheduled grade two listed fort. The project will provide a business hub for the cultural and creative sector.

Fort Cumberland is a unique and historic space increasingly being used to support small enterprises and charities, and as a regular visitor, I’m excited that plans are afoot to protect its heritage and secure its future for our city to enjoy”.

The project has until 21 January 2019 to submit a ‘stage two’ application and a business plan. Portsmouth expects to learn if their final bid is successful in Spring 2019.