UK Travel Guide - Southampton - Developing for the Future

4th January 2009 - by Paul Serellis

Southampton - Developing for the Future

Southampton - Building a great city takes more than bricks and mortar

As the leaves brown, and the sunshine, of little we have had retreats to the shelter of the clouds we realise change is in the air. Not only the seasons but the future of our city is gathering momentum, Southampton is evolving.

June of this year saw the official unveiling of CityVision Southampton, a 5.5m x 4m grand model of the city. The joint effort by Solent Centre for architecture & Design and the University of Portsmouth brought to life the councils proposed vision for the city. At an astonishing £60,000 some critics say it deserves more than the ‘space under the stairs’ at Southampton City’s Art Gallery.

The model focuses on the key developments all planned to be finalised in 2026.

The French Quarter

The streets of trendy bars and waves of sophisticated restaurants lift this Parisian haven away from anything else of its kind in Southampton. The already much loved French Quarter houses some of the most expensive apartments in the city, however in the future history will be on show for all to see. A mixed tenure expansion will re instate the history of the area much of which was destroyed by war time damage and post war traffic planning. The sea, an element Southampton was built upon, holds a crucial role both in the creation of the sector and the significance of the past.

Ocean Village

The dwelling takes its name from the marina it surrounds, so it is only just the marina too becomes the focal point for the regeneration. Reinvigorating the marina is merely one result of the Ocean Village development, already an area of great wealth. Initially the Boat Yard designed by John Thomson & Partners, the creators for the French Quarter, intends to erect a residential scheme comprising of 130 one, two and three bedroom apartments to the area. All of which will be designed around a communal landscaped courtyard, drawing its focus from the powerful marina.

West Quay

With over 228,600 residents living, working and spending in Southampton West Quay is universally known. The Shopping precinct West Quay embraces thousands of potential shoppers every day, with West Quay Retail Park holding huge influence just a walk away. With this in mind two developments await the surrounding area. Carnival, a category A office building indulges workers with 5 floors of open plan spacing with triple height reception and a full height winter garden area for escaping the daily grind. The second investment being built on the old Pirelli works site is the Swedish flat pack furniture store IKEA. Opening for business in 2009 the store will host 9,000 products and host a 600 seating restaurant selling IKEA food and beverages to the floods of shoppers brought to the Solent.

Central Station

Exciting news for the entire city proposes a redevelopment of the Central Train station. The stirring regeneration study intends to raise the profile of the station while improving both transport interchange of trains and buses while connecting Commercial road with City Centre.

These developments and will ensure Southampton develops into a modern vibrant city establishing itself as the main centre on the South Coast of England.