Major development to rise again after long delays (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Major Watermark WestQuay development in Southampton to rise again after long delays
5:30am Thursday 19th July 2012 in Business
By Matt Smith, Politics and business reporter
Original vision for Watermark WestQuay in Southampton
IT'S a barren patch of wasteland in the heart of Southampton that has been earmarked for Olympic sized ice rinks, supercasinos and conference centres over the past decade.
Now the long delayed redevelopment of the four-acre site next to the WestQuay shopping centre has been given a new lease of life - with the prospect of up to 1,000 jobs.
After previous its plans were stalled by the recession, WestQuay's joint owners Hammerson have signed a four-year agreement with the council to deliver a “landmark restaurant and leisure quarter”.
The leisure-led scheme, dubbed Watermark WestQuay, will include flagship restaurants, a luxury cinema , shops and apartments with landscaped plaza set against the city's historic medieval walls.
It will be the biggest commercial development planned for Southampton since the shopping centre was built in 2000.
Hammerson said the scheme would complement its neighbouring shopping centre, introducing new brands to the city and would create a “vibrant night time economy”.
There had been fears the project, given outline planning consent three years ago, had been mothballed. It has been overtaken in recent years by other Hammerson projects in Leeds and Sheffield.
But Hammerson insists it has been testing the market over the past year and will work on a revised masterplan for fresh designs to be put out to public consultation by the end of the year.
The development is one of the seven “very important projects” in a council masterplan which aims to bring 20,000 new jobs and £3 billion of new investment to the city over the next 25 years.
The announcement, days before Hammerson releases its annual results, comes as the WestQuay shopping centre is undergoing a £7m refurbishment of its food terrace.
Guy Wells, development manager for Hammerson, said: “The location of Watermark is really quite unique. The town walls mean we already have a fantastic starting point for the new masterplan and we intend to create a scheme which makes the most of this special site and delivers a landmark restaurant and leisure quarter in Southampton.
“We know there is strong demand from restaurant and leisure brands from our letting success with the food terrace extension and we look forward to bringing more new names to the city.”
Business leaders welcomed the news.
Hampshire Chamber chief executive Jimmy Chestnutt said the delays had been frustrating but said the council was right to give Hammerson more time.
“The fact Hammerson have not walked away or had cold feet is a good sign and good news for the city. I'm sure they will start works as soon as they think its financially sensible. In the end it will get built, there will be jobs, and it will it will enhance that part of the city and the waterfront.”
Council leader Richard Williams said: “It is good news that Hammerson is still looking positively at moving forward with its plans for the Watermark West Quay development - despite the difficult economic climate and Southampton City Council is looking forward to seeing the revised plans.”
The news comes as a number of stalled developments are revived in the city following the recession, including the completion of apartments and a new luxury hotel at Ocean village and a new Morrisons supermarket in East Street.
Morgan Sindall Investments is also working up plans for a huge £450m redevelopment of the Royal Pier waterfront.
Hammerson said it would submit a planning application will in early 2013 for work to start on site in the spring of 2014. The first phase could be completed by spring 2016.
Comments(48)
Portswoodfoke
says...
6:57am Thu 19 Jul 12
Good news that something is finally going there but I would have preferred a large office tower with lots of micro business units so that there is more employment in the city centre and more use of existing shops, restaurants etc
loosehead
says...
7:47am Thu 19 Jul 12
ohmywell wrote:Sorry did you say Thank Christ the Tories started this project yet another project started by them?
Thank god the Tories are not about. Roy and his boys would only hace stalled the project further.
Are you that dumb?
The news comes as a number of stalled developments are revived in the city following the recession.
did you read this piece of the article? does it state the Tories stalled it?
It does say a number of developments! these were all planned under Roy & his boys so Labour can take credit for projects they had nothing what so ever to do with
bigfella777
says...
7:48am Thu 19 Jul 12
Condor Man
says...
8:21am Thu 19 Jul 12
ohmywell wrote:I think you live in a dreamworld, over the next year you'll realise that the Conservative council were far more competent and effective than the current regime with all their infighting will ever be.
Thank god the Tories are not about. Roy and his boys would only hace stalled the project further.
Over the Edge
says...
8:51am Thu 19 Jul 12
I just hope Hammerson and the current council and local collegescan work to together to ensure the young unemployed of our city get a crack at the jobs.
Hammerson's should be made to train the young unemployed under a section 106 agreement, it has worked on smaller developments in the city.
Fingers crossed everything finally goes ahead, god knows the residents of this city, especially the young need it and deserve it.
southy
says...
8:54am Thu 19 Jul 12
loosehead wrote:Its a totally new planning to the ones that the Torys had Loose, all the Torys Plans the Torys Scrap them selfs after each one of there plans failed, there is no saying yet it might even happen to this plan. We are still in the recession very deep.
ohmywell wrote:Sorry did you say Thank Christ the Tories started this project yet another project started by them?
Thank god the Tories are not about. Roy and his boys would only hace stalled the project further.
Are you that dumb?
The news comes as a number of stalled developments are revived in the city following the recession.
did you read this piece of the article? does it state the Tories stalled it?
It does say a number of developments! these were all planned under Roy & his boys so Labour can take credit for projects they had nothing what so ever to do with
elvisimo
says...
9:06am Thu 19 Jul 12
There will also be other large space leisure units.
and NO there will not be an ice rink
arthur dalyrimple
says...
9:32am Thu 19 Jul 12
arthur dalyrimple
says...
9:33am Thu 19 Jul 12
saint robbie
says...
9:55am Thu 19 Jul 12
This dosent sound leisure-led to me??
Although far to late, surely this would have been an ideal place to put a maritime themed museum (sea city) or something else that could possibly help tap further into the cruise economy.
Just wait, mayflower park will be the next bit of land to have Restaurants, appartments and shops.
I would rather see the QE2
saint robbie
says...
10:04am Thu 19 Jul 12
saint robbie wrote:Sorry supposed to say..
The leisure-led scheme, dubbed Watermark WestQuay, will include flagship restaurants, a luxury cinema , shops and apartments with landscaped plaza set against the city's historic medieval walls. This dosent sound leisure-led to me?? Although far to late, surely this would have been an ideal place to put a maritime themed museum (sea city) or something else that could possibly help tap further into the cruise economy. Just wait, mayflower park will be the next bit of land to have Restaurants, appartments and shops. I would rather see the QE2
I would rather see the QE2 dragged back to southampton and become a hotel and museum with any left open space around mayflower park, de vere, pier etc developed to become more of a tourist inspired area.
Yes, Southampton works well as a cruise turnaround port but imagine how many more millions could be pumped in to the local economy if was also to become a cruise destination.
Portswoodfoke
says...
10:28am Thu 19 Jul 12
As for the anti-tory trolls, go back under your bridge you uneducated morrons. This has nothing to do with your labour cretins bullying their way back to power, this is about long term planning and them finally having enough demand.
I just can't see the point of a cinema led complex so close to Odeon, Ask, Frank & Bennys etc but my guess is that it will be a Vue.
ajw1986
says...
10:32am Thu 19 Jul 12
None of it sounds leisure-led at all, they ought to put a massive complex that includes swimming/fun (i know they have the Quays but we really need an afforadable large community swimming pool) acitivites and creates more jobs for people.
Completely agree with Portswoodfoke in using the space for microbusinesses that actually need it.
And WHY do we need more silly restaurants down there when theres plenty of empty space along the high street?
Will be interesting to see where it goes, and if they actually think about what the public community need instead of spending alot of money to make pittance.
G0Rf
says...
11:01am Thu 19 Jul 12
What do we have that can rival them?
Oh an a live music arena please!
southy
says...
11:54am Thu 19 Jul 12
arthur dalyrimple wrote:Yes I was reading that yesterday, the dates I see was austerity not going to end before 2017 and may carry on to the next decade and beyond.
Dave the freemason in parliament has just called austerity for the next ten years , good luck with this !!!!
southy
says...
12:00pm Thu 19 Jul 12
ajw1986 wrote:Its called centralising big business, they do this so other shopping centers can not compeat with with the selection different goods, forcing people to head there to spend there money because they know they can find what they want all in one area and will not to travel around to find stuff.
While they are thinking they might as well use the horrible looking space as a place for putting markets etc. Might as well draw more people down there. Absolutely rediculous that they are truly thinking of putting another cinema down there. Leisure world will become completely useless (with the cinema and F&B being the only things i go for).
None of it sounds leisure-led at all, they ought to put a massive complex that includes swimming/fun (i know they have the Quays but we really need an afforadable large community swimming pool) acitivites and creates more jobs for people.
Completely agree with Portswoodfoke in using the space for microbusinesses that actually need it.
And WHY do we need more silly restaurants down there when theres plenty of empty space along the high street?
Will be interesting to see where it goes, and if they actually think about what the public community need instead of spending alot of money to make pittance.
southy
says...
12:02pm Thu 19 Jul 12
Portswoodfoke wrote:How long terming back to the late 70's maybe, come on the Torys are to well known for there short term planning just to make the quick buck.
Just seems like this plan will nuke leisure world.
As for the anti-tory trolls, go back under your bridge you uneducated morrons. This has nothing to do with your labour cretins bullying their way back to power, this is about long term planning and them finally having enough demand.
I just can't see the point of a cinema led complex so close to Odeon, Ask, Frank & Bennys etc but my guess is that it will be a Vue.
elvisimo
says...
12:20pm Thu 19 Jul 12
ajw1986 wrote:They are not aiming for the F&B customers or indeed the leisure world customer. There are a lot of restaurant operators who want to be represented in southampton but there is nothing that suits their needs.
While they are thinking they might as well use the horrible looking space as a place for putting markets etc. Might as well draw more people down there. Absolutely rediculous that they are truly thinking of putting another cinema down there. Leisure world will become completely useless (with the cinema and F&B being the only things i go for). None of it sounds leisure-led at all, they ought to put a massive complex that includes swimming/fun (i know they have the Quays but we really need an afforadable large community swimming pool) acitivites and creates more jobs for people. Completely agree with Portswoodfoke in using the space for microbusinesses that actually need it. And WHY do we need more silly restaurants down there when theres plenty of empty space along the high street? Will be interesting to see where it goes, and if they actually think about what the public community need instead of spending alot of money to make pittance.
People moan that the the offer in places like gunwharf quays is so much better that that in southampton - well this will go a longway to redress this.
The likes of Wagamamma, Jamies Italian, Cote etc eill only go to a dedicated scheme.
This is a national property company. They are in the business of making money. This is not a council owned scheme.
Not quite sure why restaurants are "silly" or why you would build something for micro businesses - there is an abundance of cheap empty retail and office space already in Southampton.
loosehead
says...
12:22pm Thu 19 Jul 12
I personally feel we have leisure world for the 18-25 crowd hopefully this development will be for us older generation & allow us to go out to town on the week end?
sophisticated
says...
12:46pm Thu 19 Jul 12
Beer Monster
says...
1:25pm Thu 19 Jul 12
G0Rf wrote:This.
Southampton needs a leisure complex to rival Basingstoke's Leisure Park and Poole's Tower Park Leisure Park.
What do we have that can rival them?
Oh an a live music arena please!
The only decent live music venues we have in Southampton are either too small for larger acts or subject to the elements (St. Mary's/Rose Bowl).
Or maybe a lido, possibly expanding on The Quays if necessary? They have a similar set up in Guildford with their lido being just down the road from the Spectrum leisure centre.
southy
says...
1:34pm Thu 19 Jul 12
loosehead wrote:Oh Loose while I remember, there is a public consultation going on at Lordhill shopping center, Yesterday, today and tomorrow in the evenings about the the Oaklands Swimming pool.
3-4 years ago some one I knew was told by a manager in leisure World the company was pulling out & had lined up developers didn't think much of it then but maybe it wasn't just some one trying to chat up a customer?
I personally feel we have leisure world for the 18-25 crowd hopefully this development will be for us older generation & allow us to go out to town on the week end?
loosehead
says...
3:03pm Thu 19 Jul 12
Beer Monster wrote:beer Monster I can remember singing at the Central Hall when I was young why don't they have concerts in there?
G0Rf wrote:This.
Southampton needs a leisure complex to rival Basingstoke's Leisure Park and Poole's Tower Park Leisure Park.
What do we have that can rival them?
Oh an a live music arena please!
The only decent live music venues we have in Southampton are either too small for larger acts or subject to the elements (St. Mary's/Rose Bowl).
Or maybe a lido, possibly expanding on The Quays if necessary? They have a similar set up in Guildford with their lido being just down the road from the Spectrum leisure centre.
southy
says...
4:13pm Thu 19 Jul 12
Georgem
says...
4:16pm Thu 19 Jul 12
southy wrote:Was Rahit Maryada on any of them?
Wow 6 busess all with in 1 min, make that 7 busess in 2 mins and all going the same way.
Person? Or document? Which is it?
OSPREYSAINT
says...
4:47pm Thu 19 Jul 12
loosehead wrote:You are if nothing else consistent!
ohmywell wrote:Sorry did you say Thank Christ the Tories started this project yet another project started by them?
Thank god the Tories are not about. Roy and his boys would only hace stalled the project further.
Are you that dumb?
The news comes as a number of stalled developments are revived in the city following the recession.
did you read this piece of the article? does it state the Tories stalled it?
It does say a number of developments! these were all planned under Roy & his boys so Labour can take credit for projects they had nothing what so ever to do with
OSPREYSAINT
says...
4:48pm Thu 19 Jul 12
Condor Man wrote:.. and so are you!
ohmywell wrote:I think you live in a dreamworld, over the next year you'll realise that the Conservative council were far more competent and effective than the current regime with all their infighting will ever be.
Thank god the Tories are not about. Roy and his boys would only hace stalled the project further.
OSPREYSAINT
says...
4:51pm Thu 19 Jul 12
elvisimo wrote:No Ice Rink? What are they thinking about, in that case I am totally against it much better go for Portswoodfokes idea of a couple of hundred empty office units.
The reason this will now happen is they have confirmed that the demand is there from the potential occupiers. With regard to do we need another cinema - the cinema operators obviously think so. The restauranteurs will not go into the scheme without the cinema as an anchor tenant.
There will also be other large space leisure units.
and NO there will not be an ice rink
OSPREYSAINT
says...
4:52pm Thu 19 Jul 12
Georgem wrote:and this is getting repetitive and boring, funny first time, but too much too often.
southy wrote:Was Rahit Maryada on any of them?
Wow 6 busess all with in 1 min, make that 7 busess in 2 mins and all going the same way.
Person? Or document? Which is it?
OSPREYSAINT
says...
4:52pm Thu 19 Jul 12
southy wrote:Not a Number 5 in sight.
Wow 6 busess all with in 1 min, make that 7 busess in 2 mins and all going the same way.
OSPREYSAINT
says...
5:17pm Thu 19 Jul 12
100%HANTSBOY
says...
5:19pm Thu 19 Jul 12
loosehead wrote:I totally agree,why are developers so scared to aim these new projects at anyone other than the 18-25 crowd,give us old (young at heart) grunters a chance,I'd love to get back into the town scene but I hate BBQ Chicken,Burgers and cheesy chips!
3-4 years ago some one I knew was told by a manager in leisure World the company was pulling out & had lined up developers didn't think much of it then but maybe it wasn't just some one trying to chat up a customer?
I personally feel we have leisure world for the 18-25 crowd hopefully this development will be for us older generation & allow us to go out to town on the week end?
Georgem
says...
5:41pm Thu 19 Jul 12
OSPREYSAINT wrote:It's not meant to be funny. He should answer the question.
Georgem wrote:and this is getting repetitive and boring, funny first time, but too much too often.
southy wrote:Was Rahit Maryada on any of them?
Wow 6 busess all with in 1 min, make that 7 busess in 2 mins and all going the same way.
Person? Or document? Which is it?
SaintM
says...
5:57pm Thu 19 Jul 12
OSPREYSAINT
says...
6:48pm Thu 19 Jul 12
Georgem wrote:You are the only one asking and the only one that actually gives a ****.
OSPREYSAINT wrote:It's not meant to be funny. He should answer the question.
Georgem wrote:and this is getting repetitive and boring, funny first time, but too much too often.
southy wrote:Was Rahit Maryada on any of them?
Wow 6 busess all with in 1 min, make that 7 busess in 2 mins and all going the same way.
Person? Or document? Which is it?
southy
says...
7:27pm Thu 19 Jul 12
OSPREYSAINT wrote:Have you gone back to the 80's when the Finances Restriction was removed and check on what cause the Icelandic Economy Collapse (cause though removing the finances restictions).
I spent a long time researching, (at least 15 minutes) and I have come to the conclusion that all of our problems stem from the Labour Governments failure to prevent the Banks from screwing up our economy, I can find no other cause.
southy
says...
7:40pm Thu 19 Jul 12
southy wrote:Oprey watch a Documentary made in the USA the director is Charles Ferguson, called Inside Job
OSPREYSAINT wrote:Have you gone back to the 80's when the Finances Restriction was removed and check on what cause the Icelandic Economy Collapse (cause though removing the finances restictions).
I spent a long time researching, (at least 15 minutes) and I have come to the conclusion that all of our problems stem from the Labour Governments failure to prevent the Banks from screwing up our economy, I can find no other cause.
I was trying to find the one that deals with the icelandic finance and banking collapse and why it happened that deals with just the facts and no more.
OSPREYSAINT
says...
8:08pm Thu 19 Jul 12
southy wrote:Sorry that is out of my league, I couldn't master an abacus, I have no interest in finance or mathematics at all, but I know corruption when I see it.
southy wrote:Oprey watch a Documentary made in the USA the director is Charles Ferguson, called Inside Job
OSPREYSAINT wrote:Have you gone back to the 80's when the Finances Restriction was removed and check on what cause the Icelandic Economy Collapse (cause though removing the finances restictions).
I spent a long time researching, (at least 15 minutes) and I have come to the conclusion that all of our problems stem from the Labour Governments failure to prevent the Banks from screwing up our economy, I can find no other cause.
I was trying to find the one that deals with the icelandic finance and banking collapse and why it happened that deals with just the facts and no more.
Rob444
says...
8:45pm Thu 19 Jul 12
OceansofRed
says...
9:33pm Thu 19 Jul 12
OceansofRed
says...
9:33pm Thu 19 Jul 12
OSPREYSAINT
says...
9:33pm Thu 19 Jul 12
Rob444 wrote:What apart from the Ice Rink are we lacking exactly?
Do we really need more of the same? How about the developers providing a few things that Southampton is lacking?
IronLady2010
says...
10:39pm Thu 19 Jul 12
OSPREYSAINT wrote:We don't want a bloomin Ice Rink! It's a chav magnet!
Rob444 wrote:What apart from the Ice Rink are we lacking exactly?
Do we really need more of the same? How about the developers providing a few things that Southampton is lacking?
southy
says...
11:45pm Thu 19 Jul 12
IronLady2010 wrote:Ice rink, greyhound track, speedway, skol 6 type track, curling rink.
OSPREYSAINT wrote:We don't want a bloomin Ice Rink! It's a chav magnet!
Rob444 wrote:What apart from the Ice Rink are we lacking exactly?
Do we really need more of the same? How about the developers providing a few things that Southampton is lacking?
ajw1986
says...
9:51am Fri 20 Jul 12
southy wrote:Whatever they put there will be a chav magnet, even if its luxury.
IronLady2010 wrote:Ice rink, greyhound track, speedway, skol 6 type track, curling rink.
OSPREYSAINT wrote:We don't want a bloomin Ice Rink! It's a chav magnet!
Rob444 wrote:What apart from the Ice Rink are we lacking exactly?
Do we really need more of the same? How about the developers providing a few things that Southampton is lacking?
No point in saying there will be luxury premises when we all know who actually fill Southampton. There'll be an influx!
I've changed my mind though, screw the whole luxury cinema we don't need (but i would love to try out) and stuff and put in one giant dog/cockerel/man fighting ring. :)
OSPREYSAINT
says...
11:51am Sat 21 Jul 12
echoskye
says...
12:01am Sun 22 Jul 12
ohmywell wrote:..and local residents, PLEASE ensure the copse of trees at the foot of the Wall are not removed which is what the developers plan to do. CONTACT THE Tree Preservation Officer at Southampton City Council... nick.gruber@southamp
Thank god the Tories are not about. Roy and his boys would only hace stalled the project further.
ton.gov.uk to voice your concern.
ohmywell says...
6:54am Thu 19 Jul 12