Southampton Set to Adopt First Ever Growth and Prosperity Plan

Southampton City Council is preparing to adopt a major new strategy aimed at shaping the city’s growth over the next decade. The Growth and Prosperity Plan, due to be discussed by Cabinet on 25 November 2025, outlines how the council intends to deliver a more equal, healthier, and greener Southampton while driving long-term economic progress.

The plan provides a framework that supports the ambitions of the wider City Plan, bringing together a pipeline of delivery programmes that will guide investment, regeneration, and collaboration with partners across the city. According to the council, the approach is designed to ensure all activity aligns with the goal of delivering growth that benefits everyone.

The strategy is also closely linked to the emerging Hampshire and Solent Combined Authority, with the council anticipating that key elements of the plan will be advanced through new funding and opportunities arising from devolution.

Councillor Sarah Bogle, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said she was “delighted” to present the new plan to Cabinet.

“I am delighted to be bringing the new Growth and Prosperity Plan to Cabinet. It is the first plan of its kind for Southampton; one which sets out a vision, clear objectives and a coherent set of delivery priorities linked to one overarching goal: to deliver meaningful growth and shared prosperity for the people of Southampton.”

Bogle emphasised the city’s strong foundations, noting both its heritage and future potential.

“Southampton is a city with a rich and proud history – but also one with huge potential. This plan will build on those foundations and support our work to ensure that growth benefits all our residents, communities and businesses.”

The plan sets out several major programme areas the council expects to pursue over the next decade. These include large-scale housing delivery, pushing forward the Southampton Renaissance Vision and a suite of regeneration projects, tackling the city’s significant energy challenges, improving cultural and creative infrastructure, creating new job opportunities, strengthening the skills system for local people, and progressing work on a high-quality mass rapid transit system.

As the plan moves towards adoption, the council says it will continue highlighting Southampton’s potential to government departments, investors, and businesses, positioning the city as a thriving, dynamic, and growing urban hub for the region.