SOUTHAMPTON'S skyline has reached new heights today as a multi-million pound development is set to finish.

Developer Crest Nicholson hosted a celebration today at Southampton's highest point to mark the final pour of concrete in the construction of its landmark tower.

Attended by the Mayor of Southampton, Alex Houghton, leader of Southampton City Council, Dan Fitzhenry, and other local dignitaries, the celebration was hosted at the Centenary Quay development in Woolston.

With 27 storeys and measuring around 89m in height, the apartment complex is the tallest building in the city.

It is bringing a total of 165 new homes, and the development – which overtakes Ocean Village’s 26-storey, 80m Moresby Tower – is hoped to be welcoming its first residents at the end of 2022.

More than 850 homes have already been built at the site, and this latest phase of work takes the development a step closer to the 1,620 homes that will complete Centenary Quay. The developer has also confirmed that 25% of the scheme will be affordable housing.

Mayor of Southampton, Alex Houghton, said: "Today marks a great milestone in the Centenary Quay project and I am delighted to have been involved in the topping out ceremony of Southampton’s tallest building. As well as providing new homes in Southampton, Centenary Quay offers residents and the surrounding community a wide range of benefits.

He added: "We weren't always sure it was coming, it seems to be a long time there was a gap.

"We're looking forward to people moving in by the end of the year so that's a bit of a target.

"It's certainly not an easy job [working through a pandemic] for any of the team."

Peter Truscott, chief executive at Crest Nicholson, said: "This building stood still for quite some time, I must admit I had some doubts.

"To be here just over 18 months later and to see the building, it's looking fantastic.

"As a man from Southampton and as a man whose father worked on this very site, I'm just immensely proud to be involved in completing the tallest building in Southampton, and I suspect the tallest building in Southampton for quite a long time."