Millennium project gets œ40m boost

Portsmouth's œ86 million Millennium project received a major boost this week following the signing of an agreement on Monday with the Millennium Commission which released œ40 million of Lottery funding.

The scheme is due for completion in 2000 and should bring in around œ300 million of investment into Portsmouth Harbour as well as creating 3,500 jobs. The partners behind the project are Portsmouth City Council, Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, Gosport Borough Council and the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Partnership.

The scheme will include six kilometres of new public promenades. Gosport will feature a string of waterfront facilities, including a heritage area at Priddy's Yard with an armaments museum.

Portsmouth's historic dockyard will have a Navy in Action centre and maritime research centre.

Developers Berkeley/Lordland will redevelop Gunwharf Quay with a mix of homes, restaurants, shops and leisure attractions. The joint venture is also interested in designing, building and operating the proposed 150m high Millennium Tower near the harbour entrance.