Portfield

Mixed commercial and residential area east of the centre, dominated by retail parks, an industrial estate, and the busy Portfield roundabout on the A27.

Portfield lies to the east of Chichester city centre, straddling the main road towards Bognor Regis and the A27 junction. The area has a mixed character, combining residential streets with retail parks, light industrial units, and commercial premises. The Portfield Retail Park is the most prominent feature, with large-format stores including supermarkets, DIY retailers, and household goods outlets. This retail area draws traffic from the wider Chichester area and can be congested at peak times. The name Portfield comes from the historical field system east of the city, and the area was largely open land until the twentieth century. The Portfield industrial estate, situated along Quarry Lane and the surrounding streets, provides employment in light manufacturing, distribution, vehicle services and trades. The residential streets in Portfield are a mixture of ages and types. There are some inter-war houses along Bognor Road, but much of the housing is post-war, including some local authority estates and later private development. The area is more utilitarian than picturesque, serving an economic function that the historic city centre does not accommodate. The A27 junction at Portfield roundabout is one of the busiest interchanges in the Chichester area, handling traffic between the city centre, the Bognor road, and the bypass. This junction is a regular pinch point during morning and evening rush hours. Portfield Cricket Ground, home of Chichester Priory Park Cricket Club's second ground, provides a green space within the commercial area. The area is within walking distance of the city centre, though the route along Bognor Road is not the most pleasant. Residents of Portfield have the convenience of being close to both the retail parks and the city centre, with the trade-off of living in a busier, more traffic-heavy area.