‘You’re not going to spend £1m to overlook a nudist beach’: inside Portsmouth’s property dilemma

Theresa adds that “no one will miss the naturists”. 

“They have been here for 70-odd years and while most of them don’t cause any problems, occasionally there is someone standing naked at top of the footpath where children and families walk to and from the beach. It is unnecessary exhibitionism and makes you worry that they might be a bit perverted.

“Moreover, the nudists don’t contribute to anything locally — so if they are that desperate to sunbathe they can go to Hayling on the ferry.”

The local Southsea Beach Clean group meets once a month, every Saturday, to clean the entire stretch of sea front from Eastney down to the pier. “The main concern we all have about the development is poor water quality and sewage, as well as the impact of more cars in an area poorly serviced by public transport,” says the group’s coordinator Pete Fincham, 50.

“There is a commitment by the developers to add to coastal defence and beach management, and the site is a horrible eyesore, so on the surface it doesn’t look to be a bad thing. In a city of 200,000-odd residents, no one talks about the nudist beach. We just can’t take our children in the sea anymore because that end of the beach is where the sewage treatment works are, so cleaner water and better sewage management is far more important than a bit of naked sunbathing.”

In a statement, a spokesman for Orangestar Capital said Eastney beach is currently privately owned and that no public right of way currently exists, “although this is not enforced”. 

With plans to introduce a circular route around the peninsula in front of Cumberland Fort for the first time in many years, he says, “public rights to access the beach will actually be enhanced and provide a massive benefit to everyone in Portsmouth”.

“There will of course be a change of character of the locality as a result of the new homes on the site, but this need not preclude naturist access to the beach”.

In terms of infrastructure, the spokesman says: “We have been working closely with all statutory consultees, and can confirm that neither the Portsmouth City Council Highways Department or those related to foul sewage have objected to the proposals.

“We would make a contribution of £2.65million towards local infrastructure as a result of the development… all in addition to local highways improvement works, including to the access road.”