The John Pounds Centre, Portsmouth

What?

• Named after a philanthropic eighteenth century Portsmouth cobbler, the £7 million John Pounds Centre is part of a comprehensive “healthy living” complex located in Portsea, Portsmouth
• The centre houses a range of facilities and activities for local residents, including a medical centre; community garden, library; housing; multi-purpose halls; café; creche; community offices; youth club; fitness suite; and arts and craft studios

When?

• From the Council agreeing to support coordination work in the area in 1996 it took ten years for the Centre to be finished and opened in 2006
• The John Pounds Medical Centre was opened in 2003 and new private and affordable housing will be completed in 2008

How?

• In 1996, the City Council agreed to initiate an area of co-ordination in Portsea, one of the most deprived wards in south-east England, with the aim of supporting residents’ involvement in planning for the area and encouraging better inter-agency working
• In 1997, the Council supported a programme of arts events in the area, culminating in a neighbourhood celebration, to help bring residents and agencies together
• In 1998 residents led ‘Planning for Real’ events with the help of a community development consultant. This produced an action plan and the idea of the redevelopment of the John Pounds site with a new primary care centre
• In 1999 the Portsea Action Group 99 was formed by residents to oversee the implementation of their Action Plan
• A successful grant application was made by the council in 2001 to the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) to build the new Medical Centre which would unite improved primary care facilities under one roof. Residents had prioritised this part of the redevelopment
• Further funding was obtained for the community facilities from the Single Regeneration Budget Round 5, Active England Lottery Fund and the council, including money from land sales for housing. The building, started in 2004 was opened in 2006
• A management trust, John Pounds Community Trust Ltd, was set up to run the centre with its own paid staff
• New private and affordable housing was started in 2006 and is due for completion in 2008

Summary

• Arts and cultural activities have been used in a wide range of ways to develop the processes of engagement and in the ways the complex has been developed physically
• In 2006, the Centre was the overall winner of the South East Regional Planning Awards; won the regional RTPI Planning Awards in the category of Community Planning; and won the category of Community Benefit in the RICS Awards South East
• It was also Highly Commended in the Local Government Chronicle and Health Service Gazette Awards in 2007, and was a national finalist in the ASC “Cultural Contribution” Awards in 2007