£70m WestQuay extension to bring 500 jobs (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Revised plans for Watermark WestQuay to be revealed to Southampton residents
9:40am Wednesday 28th November 2012 in News
By Jon Reeve, Education Reporter
An earlier artist's impression of Watermark WestQuay
IT’S the £70m vision that would bring 500 much-needed jobs to Southampton.
Developers will next week show off their revised plans to bring restaurants, leisure facilities and a multi-screen luxury cinema to the heart of the city in the much-awaited Watermark WestQuay development, which could be open in a little over three years.
City leaders last night welcomed the step forward as a major boost for Southampton that could kick-start the local economy.
Property investment giant Hammerson expects to lodge a bid in February for planning permission for a striking landmark building housing a mixture of 16 posh and family eateries below an entertainment hub, next to an open plaza linking the new restaurants to the historic medieval walls.
The firm also wants to add a giant 24-storey residential tower overlooking the waterfront as well as a hotel or offices and shops in a second phase of the project, which could see the redundant section of the former Pirelli site completely transformed into a bustling centre within six years.
Bosses at the firm have been working with Southampton City Council on the plans for 18 months and will next week run a two-day exhibition to gauge public reaction.
The scheme – one of seven key projects identified in the council’s £3 billion “masterplan” for the redevelopment of the city centre – has been revised after previous proposals were mothballed when the credit crunch caused the economy to crash.
But earlier this year Hammerson signed a four-year deal with the council committing to overhauling the barren wasteland between WestQuay Shopping Centre and The Quays swimming and diving complex.
The Watermark site has at various points been earmarked as a home for an ice rink and a super-casino, but the developers, buoyed by the early success of the recent £7m expansion of the eating facilities at the retail centre, believe the new plans reflect demand within the city.
The vision includes two rows of “aspirational” restaurants, featuring major national names, and tree-lined promenades leading down from the Waterstones side of the retail complex, overlooking a landscaped plaza separating the development from the city’s old walls.
On the Harbour Parade side of the development, family-orientated food outlets would be linked to the multi-storey car park by a new bridge across the road.
Above them, a floor would be given over to leisure facilities, which could be a bowling alley or “family entertainment centre”, with the 12 cinema screens forming the top layer of the complex, which would be as tall as the shopping centre.
Hammerson development manager Guy Wells promised that Watermark would provide “grand architecture and a statement”
for the city centre, and hopes that construction will begin in spring 2014.
He said: “Watermark WestQuay is an important regeneration scheme that will transform this part of the city and at the same time create fulland part-time employment opportunities for local people.”
Southampton’s Labour finance boss, Cllr Simon Letts, last night said he is delighted that the scheme is moving forward.
He said: “It’s excellent news for the city, creating jobs and getting things moving again.”
- The full plans will be on show on the lower floor of WestQuay Shopping Centre from 9am to 8pm next Thursday and Friday.
Comments(27)
elvisimo
says...
9:53am Wed 28 Nov 12
And of course why do we need "_____"
S Pance
says...
10:09am Wed 28 Nov 12
Why have 500 jobs been apparently dropped from the plans?
AD1234
says...
10:19am Wed 28 Nov 12
"posh and family eateries" - the former provide knives & forks.
“aspirational” restaurants - establishments which hope to avoid drunken fights after 9pm.
"giant 24-storey residential tower overlooking the waterfront" - accommodation for single mums on benefits.
Welcome, Hammerson, to Gotham City.
AndyAndrews
says...
10:22am Wed 28 Nov 12
__KTF__
says...
10:26am Wed 28 Nov 12
When is Leisure World being knocked down again as I suspect this is timed with that happening?
Also, why do they always put the plans no display during the week when there it little footfall.
If they extended it over the weekend they would get a lot more feedback.
elvisimo
says...
10:50am Wed 28 Nov 12
__KTF__ wrote:franchised restaurants - like who?
Great, more franchise restaurants on the way... When is Leisure World being knocked down again as I suspect this is timed with that happening? Also, why do they always put the plans no display during the week when there it little footfall. If they extended it over the weekend they would get a lot more feedback.
arthur dalyrimple
says...
11:23am Wed 28 Nov 12
RadicalEmu
says...
11:36am Wed 28 Nov 12
Subject48
says...
11:49am Wed 28 Nov 12
Barney123
says...
12:00pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Shame the council can't promote this land for university linked start-ups - the likes of high-skilled graduates instead of waitering staff.
Linesman
says...
12:00pm Wed 28 Nov 12
henry2*
says...
1:01pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Call2Arms
says...
1:22pm Wed 28 Nov 12
It is not great for the people of Southampton. It is another group of business's gathered together to enable us to spend more money. Surely we have all that already ?
Then again it does have trees, so that will make all the difference.
These shops and restaurants will open and others around the city not in the complex will close. What's the point ?
st1halo
says...
1:44pm Wed 28 Nov 12
The transformation from a famous old city into Legoland is almost complete! I'd imagine tourists around the world are planning their visits right now!
@henry2 - why would we want to be identical to Bristol ?
bigfella777
says...
1:46pm Wed 28 Nov 12
elvisimo
says...
2:01pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Call2Arms wrote:The point is they have demand to take the space. Most of the national restaurant operators have not come into the town centre as there has been nowhere for them to go. They want to be linked to the daytime retail spend and have a next generation digital cinema to provide a nightime anchor.
Yep. Isn't there a huge cinema not 500 yards away? It is not great for the people of Southampton. It is another group of business's gathered together to enable us to spend more money. Surely we have all that already ? Then again it does have trees, so that will make all the difference. These shops and restaurants will open and others around the city not in the complex will close. What's the point ?
Everyone goes on about the suposed wonderful leisure offer at Gunwharf Quays yet when someone is interested in providing a £70m leisure offer in Southampton we get a series of hilarious gripes. Not that anyone seems to have any other realistic ideas for the site.
Indipendent restaurant are well catered for around Bedford Place and Oxford Street. This will offer something the city centre is lacking.
The post regarding Bristol is correct, the development has been very well recieved and trades well yet other areas (whiteladies road etc) have not seen their trade fall off a cliff.
Subject48
says...
2:08pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Fatty x Ford Worker
says...
4:05pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Boatman
says...
5:14pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Fatty x Ford Worker wrote:Why would Eastern Europeans on National Minimum wage be cheaper than locals on National Minimum Wage?
Are all the staff going to be local then not the eastern europeans cheap labour then!
loosehead
says...
9:36pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Well If I'm correct this comes under West Quay?
So will they be replacing the night clubs as well?
elvisimo
says...
7:07am Thu 29 Nov 12
loosehead wrote:no. UBS own Leisureworld and the tenants they have in place will be there long term.
i was told 5 years ago that leisure world was shutting down but it was held up due to the financial state of the country. Well If I'm correct this comes under West Quay? So will they be replacing the night clubs as well?
No nightclub in the new scheme as doesnt sit well with a family offer, plus there are pretty much no national nightclub operators in the market.
If they get this right, which they probably will from their track record, thins will be a great scheme.
loosehead
says...
8:04am Thu 29 Nov 12
elvisimo wrote:If your right then why more picture houses?
loosehead wrote:no. UBS own Leisureworld and the tenants they have in place will be there long term.
i was told 5 years ago that leisure world was shutting down but it was held up due to the financial state of the country. Well If I'm correct this comes under West Quay? So will they be replacing the night clubs as well?
No nightclub in the new scheme as doesnt sit well with a family offer, plus there are pretty much no national nightclub operators in the market.
If they get this right, which they probably will from their track record, thins will be a great scheme.
surely this would see the closure of the picture houses in Leisure World or make both unviable?
elvisimo
says...
8:36am Thu 29 Nov 12
loosehead wrote:Remember that leisure word cinema is 14 years old. Things have moved on in terms of digital screens, imax screen. In a city the size of southamptons there will be enough for both to go at.
elvisimo wrote:If your right then why more picture houses? surely this would see the closure of the picture houses in Leisure World or make both unviable?loosehead wrote: i was told 5 years ago that leisure world was shutting down but it was held up due to the financial state of the country. Well If I'm correct this comes under West Quay? So will they be replacing the night clubs as well?no. UBS own Leisureworld and the tenants they have in place will be there long term. No nightclub in the new scheme as doesnt sit well with a family offer, plus there are pretty much no national nightclub operators in the market. If they get this right, which they probably will from their track record, thins will be a great scheme.
It also provides an anchor for the restaurants at night. - Odeon was hitting north of 500k admissions yet the catering offer in Leisure World is very poor. This will see the likes of Carluccios, Cote, Barsserie Blanc come into the town. Not high price operators but pretty good offers. it will extend the trading hours of the central core but will also offer something right in the middle of town that isnt wet led.
One of the principle issue with the leisure world developments is that familys going to cinemas or to eat are at odds with people going for a lively night out which is whay several of these schemes have had to be completely reconfigured. Leisure World will have to evolve.
RadicalEmu
says...
12:42pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Boatman wrote:More to the point, if they live in Southampton they ARE local!
Fatty x Ford Worker wrote:Why would Eastern Europeans on National Minimum wage be cheaper than locals on National Minimum Wage?
Are all the staff going to be local then not the eastern europeans cheap labour then!
kingnotail
says...
5:12pm Thu 29 Nov 12
AD1234 wrote:Or, things could just stay the same with Southampton as one of the crappest cities in the UK.
For those unfamiliar with Southampton, allow me to translate.
"posh and family eateries" - the former provide knives & forks.
“aspirational” restaurants - establishments which hope to avoid drunken fights after 9pm.
"giant 24-storey residential tower overlooking the waterfront" - accommodation for single mums on benefits.
Welcome, Hammerson, to Gotham City.
kingnotail
says...
5:21pm Thu 29 Nov 12
st1halo wrote:Bristol is one of the most attractive and exciting cities in the UK, with innumerable tourist attractions, places to eat, drink etc. In contrast Southamton is one of the most boring, with literally f**k all to see or do.
And the good councils of Southampton continue the work started by the Luftwaffe!
The transformation from a famous old city into Legoland is almost complete! I'd imagine tourists around the world are planning their visits right now!
@henry2 - why would we want to be identical to Bristol ?
freefinker says...
9:49am Wed 28 Nov 12
Who said religion is dead?