Portsmouth witnessed two air crashes in the same afternoon at the city`s airport. A Avro turboprop from Channel Airways crashed on landing in heavy rain on 15th August 1967, the 21 passengers and 4 crew were only shaken. Then a similar aircraft from the same airline on landing veered off the runway and slewed though the boundary fence, coming to rest completely blocking the Eastern Road.

In 1974 Portsmouth's Guildhall Square was pedestrianised and the civic offices built at a cost of £8 million.

The Ministry of Transport also gave permission for the council to proceed with the Farlington by-pass section of the M27 between Portsbridge and the Broadmarsh roundabout at Havant.

In 1972 the city council decided that the 40 year old airport adjoining the Eastern Road would close at the end of 1973. The site was developed into a housing and industrial site.