THE developers behind a £74m scheme to build Southampton's tallest building have signed a contract with the builders.

Hampshire based Warings will deliver the three new apartment towers at Ocean Village for Allied Developments, including a 26-storey tower that will be the city’s highest building.

The plans for Admiral’s Quay include 299 flats, a public square and up to eight restaurants with seating spilling out on to the waterside promenade.

Allied director Peter Morton said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Warings on this exciting project.

“It’s one of the most prestigious redevelopment and construction projects in the south east at the moment and will certainly transform the site which has been an eyesore in Ocean Village for many years.

“We are looking to attract high end occupiers for our bars and restaurants and create active use of the public space, more reminiscent of the café culture of the Mediterranean.

“We anticipate the project being completed in December 2014.”

Philippe Jouy, managing director at Warings, said: “We are proud to be developing this landmark and contemporary project. At Warings, we are able to bring unrivalled global knowledge to local projects, and I am confident that this project will be a great success.”

The half-built Admirals Quay site at Ocean Village which was one of the first major victims of the credit crunch in the city the years ago.

Allied, a property developing company controlled by Charles Dunstone, the cofounder and chairman of Carphone Warehouse and Talk Talk, stepped in to buy the site from Barratt Homes early last year.

Works to clear the site started last month.