Housing association VIVID’s transformational development at Tipner East, a prominent brownfield site in Portsmouth, has broken ground, with construction on Victory Quay to begin imminently.
The coastline site had been identified for its huge potential, and VIVID is collaborating with Portsmouth City Council and Homes England to produce a total of 835 mixed-tenure homes, in addition to a public access path for walkers to enjoy the salt air and scenic views.
A city experiencing a significant housing shortage, Portsmouth will benefit greatly from these high-quality homes, with 250 units set aside for affordable tenures such as shared ownership and affordable rent. The site will also provide 1,612 cycle spaces and feature a new extended cycleway to encourage sustainable transport.
The project is large-scale and complex, with Phase 1 encompassing the preparation of the land for building, the construction of the sea wall flood defences, and the installation of a service network to connect the development to water, electricity, and roads, alongside the creation of 183 housing units and a new coastal path.
Rund has been involved in the project from an early stage, appointed by VIVID to the roles of Project Manager, Employer’s Agent, Quantity Surveyor, Cost Consultant, and Contract Administrator.
We have played a pivotal role in bringing the project to its current stage - overseeing the strategy for land remediation and administering a preconstruction services agreement to achieve planning permission.
Following the project’s approval, we supported the creation of an enabling package to commence above-ground development – this includes the construction of the sea wall to provide flood protection.
In planning for Victory Quay, close attention has been paid to protecting the local ecology, including coastal birds, and consultations with Natural England and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have taken place to create a bespoke conservation plan for the area.
Paul Deakin, Executive Director at Rund, commented, “Breaking ground at Victory Quay is a significant milestone for the project, with everyone involved having worked so hard to achieve where we are today on this high-quality development, located on a marine wasteland site which required extensive remediation and decontamination. The team at Rund has been collaborating across disciplines, providing value engineering sessions, optimisation, and advice on phasing strategies. We look forward to supporting our client, VIVID through to project completion, ensuring the successful delivery of this phase and future phases.”
Tristan Samuels, Group Development and New Business Director at VIVID, said:
"Victory Quay is a flagship regeneration project for Portsmouth, and breaking ground marks a major milestone in delivering much-needed homes to the city. Rund has been instrumental in helping us navigate the complexities of this coastal site — from early remediation strategy through to enabling works and flood defences. Their expertise and collaborative approach have added real value, and we’re pleased to have them alongside us as we move into the construction phase. Together, we’re creating a vibrant, sustainable community that respects the local environment and meets the needs of future residents.”
We are proud to be working on Victory Quay, a consequential development which will provide Portsmouth with much-needed homes while preserving the area’s biodiversity and ecology.