THE hunt is on for a community hero to mark the start of work on an £80m leisure scheme set to transform the heart of Southampton.

The Daily Echo has teamed up with developer Hammerson to launch a competition to find a local hero to mark the first major milestone in the construction of the WestQuay Watermark development.

The scheme will contain a public plaza, a luxury cinema and a great line-up of restaurants and bars. The leisure and dining hub will be the centrepiece of Southampton City Council’s VIP Heart of the City project, as identified within its City Centre Master Plan that promotes its vision for the city.

The groundbreaking ceremony to officially start building work will take place on March 17 – and the winner of our competition will be on hand to start the work, pushing the button to start the piling rig. The development is expected to be built by next year.

As part of the competition, we are looking for someone who has made a difference in their community in Southampton, whether it is through their involvement in voluntary groups, local projects or helping people in need.

Guy Wells, Hammerson development manager, said: “To commemorate the start of the construction phase of WestQuay Watermark we want to find someone from the local community to be part of what will be a great addition to Southampton’s thriving city centre. We’re looking forward to receiving the nominations.”

Daily Echo editor-in-chief Ian Murray said: “It is going to be a great development for Southampton and it’s exciting that the developers are involving local people right from the beginning.”

The first names have already been signed up for the new scheme, with Showcase Cinema de Lux opening a ten-screen outlet boasting the latest in audio-visual technology.

Five restaurants have so far been confirmed as part of the new development, including Nando’s and Zizzi.

How to enter:

To nominate your community hero, simply email watermark@frankpr.it
Emails should contain the name, age and contact details of the person you are nominating, as
well as saying why they deserve recognition.
All nominations must be submitted by midnight on March 6.
The winner will be chosen by a panel from the Daily Echo, Hammerson and Southampton City
Council.
Both the winner and the person who nominated them will win a £50 gift card which can be spent
anywhere in WestQuay Shopping Centre.