Citywide Vision Agreed to Transform Southampton by 2035
Major organisations across Southampton have united behind an ambitious ten-year plan to build a city that is more equal, healthier, safer, greener, and economically inclusive by 2035.
Shaped by the voices of nearly 4,000 local residents, businesses, community groups, and institutions, the Southampton 2035 City Plan outlines a shared commitment to long-term change, with a focus on unlocking opportunity and improving quality of life for everyone who lives and works in the city.
Approved at a Full Council meeting on Wednesday, the plan sets out five key missions designed to address long-standing challenges and harness the city’s strengths.
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Five Missions for Southampton’s Future:
• A More Equal Southampton: Making Southampton a more equal city is at the heart of the vision.
• A Healthier Southampton: Building a healthier city by focusing on prevention. This includes integrating health and social care and addressing the root causes of poor health.
• A Safer Southampton: Making Southampton safer by focusing on reducing violent crime. This includes tackling domestic abuse, youth violence, and violence against women and girls.
• A Greener Southampton: Making Southampton a greener, more environmentally
sustainable and a net zero city.
This includes a reduction in carbon emissions, build energy-efficient homes, retrofit existing buildings, and boost sustainable travel.
• A Growing Southampton: Helping Southampton’s
economy grow in a sustainable and inclusive way.
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Resident Voices at the Heart of the Plan
The plan is grounded in findings from the recent City Survey, where residents shared what matters most to them and their hopes for Southampton’s future:
• 75% said Southampton is good for green spaces, and 74% are satisfied with parks and play areas.
• Most residents report a strong sense of belonging and positive relations between diverse communities.
• 94% have already changed how they dispose of waste to help combat climate change.
• 80% of working residents are satisfied with their jobs.
• 70% rate their health as good or very good.
Residents also stressed the need for the city to become healthier, safer, more affordable, environmentally sustainable, and economically vibrant.
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Council and Partners Unite for Change
Councillor Alex Winning, Leader of Southampton City Council, described the plan as “built on the voices of our residents”:
“The Southampton 2035 plan is built on the voices of our residents, and I want to thank every single person who took the time to share their views. I feel incredibly proud and fortunate to serve this city. Having grown up here, and now raising my own family here, I am deeply committed to its future.
“This plan is a commitment from the council and our partners to make Southampton a city where everyone, regardless of their background, can live well, feel safe, and achieve success.”
The Council also adopted a new Corporate Plan, which will guide how it delivers the missions over the next decade.
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Citywide Backing from Major Institutions
A wide range of organisations have already pledged their support and are working together to deliver the plan’s vision, including:
• Education & Research: University of Southampton, Solent University, City College, National Oceanography Centre
• Healthcare: University Hospital Southampton, Hampshire & Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust, Nicolas James NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Hampshire & IOW ICB
• Transport & Business: ABP, Southampton Airport, Bluestar Buses, Go! Southampton
• Community & Culture: Southampton Football Club, Southampton Council of Faiths, Southampton Voluntary Services, Southampton Forward
The plan marks a new chapter for the city — one defined by unity, ambition, and shared responsibility for creating a better future for all.
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For more information or to view the full City Plan, visit the Southampton City Council website.
