Portsmouth has a strong marine heritage, with a naval dock and ferry port. It is the UK's only island city and is extremely flat and low lying; its island location leads it to being very constrained, with limited large sites for development, and additional complications including flood risk sites, contaminated land and nature conservation. 

The west side of Portsmouth is commercial focussed, with the city centre and docklands, while its east side features residential areas with open spaces, and the southern part is defined by the seafront, historical fortifications and residential areas. 

Award winning schemes, such as Gunwharf Quays and Spinnaker Tower, have revitalised the city, and there is plenty of opportunity to be explored in the UK’s most densely populated city outside of London, particularly in its designated Tall Building Areas. 

Users of VU.CITY Portsmouth include Portsmouth City Council and Hawkins\Brown who are using the model’s many benefits, from being able to understand and assess a site’s opportunities and challenges, testing refined designs in context, enhancing pre-app conversations and planning submissions, to improving how everyone involved collaborates.