Large post-war residential estate immediately west of Cowplain — well-connected by bus, with a strong community identity.
Leigh Park is a large post-war residential estate immediately to the west of Cowplain, and the two areas have a close relationship — sharing bus routes, secondary schools, and much of the same retail offer. Built primarily in the 1950s and 1960s by Portsmouth City Council as an overspill estate to rehouse families from the bombed-out inner city, Leigh Park became one of the largest council housing estates in Europe at its peak.
Today, much of the housing stock has been bought and sold into private ownership, and Leigh Park has a mixed tenure character. The central shopping parade on Dunsbury Way is a practical, unpretentious local centre with a range of everyday shops, a post office, and takeaways. The area has a reputation for strong community spirit and a distinct local identity.
For Cowplain residents, Leigh Park is significant as the nearest location for several services not available on London Road. The two areas are separated by Riders Lane and the playing fields at Hart Plain, and it is walkable between the two.
Transport links are good — bus routes connect Leigh Park to Havant, Portsmouth, Waterlooville, and Cosham. The area falls within the Havant Borough Council boundary and the PO9 postcode.