A new 21st century community is taking shape in Southampton with construction well underway at Mapmakers, a  £7.7 million Kier Living development.

Mapmakers, named in celebration of the site’s heritage as the former headquarters of the Ordnance Survey, will be officially launched this month.

The development comprises 66 high quality houses and apartments, two on site retail units and a new green space called Ordnance Park.

Mapmakers is just three miles from the heart of vibrant Southampton, within walking distance of two hospitals and perfectly situated for access to great local schools offering various house and apartment types, with a choice of two or three bedrooms.

It is part of the wider regeneration of Southampton and the City Centre Master Plan, and will provide much needed new housing for the area. It also builds on Kier’s success of delivering housing schemes across both the south west and nationwide. The construction of Mapmakers represents the business’ first scheme in Hampshire and is expected to create around 100 jobs. As a partner of the

National Skills Academy, Kier Living will be working closely with local schools and the long-term unemployed to promote construction skills.

Andrew Spicer, Kier Living area manager, said: “We always look to use the local supply chain and make a real effort to engage with the community on any project we work on. Throughout the course of this project we will be holding events on site where local residents can take a tour of the development and ask us any questions they might have about it.

“We also plan to visit schools in the area to talk more about the work we do, launch safety competitions and share information about any ecological species we discover on site.”

At least five per cent of the workforce at Mapmakers will be made up of apprentices, graduates or sponsored students reflecting Kier Living’s membership of the ‘5% Club’ – a government backed initiative to help tackle youth unemployment.

Jon McDiarmid, sales and marketing director said: “Mapmakers is an exciting project for Kier Living incorporating new housing, apartments, shops and a public park within a fantastic location just outside the city centre. It will be a welcoming community for families and professionals alike, and will provide a sense of tranquillity for those who live there which is rare for such an accessible location.”

Be among the first people to get the chance to buy at Mapmakers by coming to celebrate the launch of this superb collection of new homes on February 20th.

For more information please call Connells on 023 8124 4349 or visit map-makers.co.uk