CIVIC leaders spearheaded celebrations marking the launch of a £36m hotel complex that will transform Southampton’s waterfront.

Alexandra Wharf will boast a five-star hotel and luxury apartments offering stunning views across the city.

The flagship Ocean Village site will deliver the city’s first luxury five-star hotel since the Grand Harbour Hotel was downgraded in 2009.

Now city leaders have gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark construction work getting underway on the complex which is expected to create 1,300 jobs.

When completed the Southampton Harbour Hotel and Spa will feature an iconic building, which will mimic a super-yacht floating in the water, with luxury rooms, a sixth-floor gym and restaurant offering spectacular waterside views.

It is named after Princess Alexandra who opened a dock in 1967 which was used to accommodate the cross Channel ferry services.

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Next to the hotel will be 82 new high quality, spacious duplex and triplex apartments.

It is being developed by Bouygues UK, the company behind the neighbouring Admiral’s Quay tower, and HGP Architects, which designed Portsmouth’s iconic Spinnaker Tower.

Acclaimed Hampshire chef Alex Aitken has been lined up to run the restaurant when the complex opens in late 2017.

Guests at yesterday’s ceremony included MP Royston Smith and Southampton mayor, Councillor Linda Norris, and Southampton City Council economy and housing development head Barbara Compton.

Nicolas Roach, chairman of the development’s owners Nicolas James Group, said: “We are excited that work is now underway on this luxury development scheme.

“We are very confident that the stylish new apartments and new Harbour Hotel will prove a fabulous addition to Southampton, boosting tourism and becoming a destination of choice for city-dwellers and visitors.”

Bouygues UK Regional managing director, Darren Gill, said: “This proves that Southampton retains the ability to attract investors looking to capitalise on the opportunities for growth in the area, from housing to hotels and everything in-between.

“As we know from our work on Admirals Quay, the apartments especially will attract a great deal of interest even in the early construction stages, because of the enviable location,” he added.