Gunwharf Quays Opens on Former Naval Land

2001

In 2001, the Gunwharf Quays retail and leisure complex opened on the site of the former HMS Vernon, a naval shore establishment that had closed in 1996. The development transformed a large area of former military land on the Portsea waterfront into one of the south coast's most significant shopping and entertainment destinations. The site had been used for military purposes for centuries, originally as an ordnance storage and distribution point, later as a torpedo and mine warfare establishment. The redevelopment was part of a broader trend of converting redundant defence land in Portsmouth for civilian use, a process driven by the post-Cold War contraction of the armed forces. Gunwharf Quays was developed by Berkeley Group and contains over 90 outlet stores, a wide selection of restaurants and bars, a cinema and other leisure facilities, all arranged around an attractive harbourside setting. The development created substantial employment in retail and hospitality and has attracted millions of visitors since opening. It also catalysed further regeneration in the surrounding area, contributing to a transformation of the Portsea waterfront from an enclosed military zone into a vibrant public space. The architectural style of Gunwharf Quays is contemporary, making no attempt to replicate the historic character of the dockyard to the north, but the quality of the waterfront setting provides an attractive environment.