Culture Minister Ed Vaizey visits Southampton's new £40million art complex

It comes as he paid a visit to the development at the site of the former Tyrell and Green store in Above Bar Street.

He was today given a tour around the building which is set to open in 2016 in Southampton's cultural quarter.

He was impressed with the complex, which is being constructed through a private-public partnership between Southampton City Council and Grosvenor.

He was led by Mike Harris, head of culture at the council, art complex team leader Jill Lowe, and Grosvenor projects director Simon Armstrong.

Southampton put in a joint bid with Portsmouth for City of Culture status but was not shortlisted, losing out to eventual winner Hull.

Mr Vaizey said: "I think it is fantastic to come here and see it. It is going to complete the city's cultural quarter.

"I think the arts complex will help with any bids, and I think what is great about the whole city of culture is all the cities who participate show that they understood the importance of culture for the community.

"Southampton has a fantastic theatre, a fantastic art collection, has a venue that travelling bands can come and play, so it has a lot to offer for not just the people of Southampton for a lot of people living around it.

"It's nice to come here and see for myself what is happening because the Southampton story is resonating and it is a very exciting time for Southampton - not just the arts complex but of course the extraordinary football team who may do very well this season."

The south building will accommodate the John Hansard Gallery, education facilities and a shop,it will also be a base for City Eye.

Both buildings will sit within a development of commercial restaurants and retail units on the ground floor, there is also residential flats on the upper floor of the South building.