Forward Southampton #1

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International gateway Page 4Project by project – what’s happening Page 12Art in the right place Page 23Working together Page 43

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cover imageThe maiden voyage of QM2 from Southampton.

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Southampton’s regeneration m

agazineforw

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issue#1 summer 2009

forwardSouthampton’s regeneration magazine

Southampton’s soul Page 4Project by project – what’s happening Page 12Art in the right place Page 23Working together Page 43

0�

04 vision Southampton’s regeneration programme is playing to the city’s strengths

12 projects The lowdown on the major projects that are set to change the city

2� culture How art and culture are helping define Southampton’s future

28 skills With 6,000 graduates each year, business links to education are vital

��

executive editor Kirsty MacAulay

features editor Alex Aspinall

art directorTerry Hawes

advertisement salesLee Harrison

Production managerRachael Schofield

managing directorToby Fox

PrinTed by Manson

iMAgeS Southampton City Council, Southampton guildhall,

dan Wilson, Mobile Homme, Transe express Laura Hensser,

Joe Low, Tom grimsey, Adcuz.co.uk, Matt dunkinson,

Mike Conquer, Leighton rolley, national Oceanography Centre

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© 3Fox international Limited 2009 All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved.

reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of 3Fox international Limited is strictly forbidden. The greatest care has been

taken to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine at time of going to press, but we accept

no responsibility for omissions or errors. The views expressed in this magazine are not

necessarily those of 3Fox international Limited or Southampton City Council.

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Southampton’s regeneration magazine forward

issue#1autumn 2009

�� visitor economy not just a departure point. We look at what Southampton has to offer visitors

�9 community How residents are getting involved in the future of the city

4� partnership Working together is the key to working well

46 contact Who to contact at Southampton City Council

Southampton’s regeneration

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0�Southampton’s regeneration magazine forward

vision

Southampton is making the most of its assets through considerable investment in £1.7 billion worth of developments. the aim of

southampton City Renaissance, the regeneration programme, is to boost the local and regional economy while making it an exciting, attractive and well-designed place to live, work and enjoy.

southampton’s geographical location, its successful port, excellent transport networks, waterfront, two universities, business support services, and hospitality and retail industries are all key platforms on which the city’s future can be built. Brad Roynon, chief executive of southampton City Council, says: “the council’s top priority is to ensure our economy is supported and, most importantly, the benefits of economic renewal and regeneration are not just for businesses but for the people of the city.”

the regeneration schemes around the city, which have been laid out in the City Renaissance document, are at varying stages. some are already up and running, others are still in the planning phase. But the development projects, which range from hammerson’s Watermark WestQuay plans for a new retail/leisure facility to the Regional Business Centre and a new Cultural Quarter, are expected to build on the city’s assets. the schemes will create new and improved living, working and leisure spaces and facilities, creating an attractive destination, approximately 6,000 jobs and a city where great investment potential can be realised.

Port of many callssouthampton’s economy has long been driven by its port. a centre for trade and »

Gateway to successIt is a successful port, a major shopping destination and a centre of excellence for marine research, with an expanding international airport. With £1.7 billion of investment planned, despite the downturn, the future for Southampton looks bright, says Charlotte Goodworth

shipping for centuries, Watergate Quay was first recorded in 1411 and it has gone from strength to strength. the port of southampton is currently experiencing a new golden age. it is worth around £2 billion a year to the local economy, provides more than 12,000 jobs as a direct result of port operations and handles around 7% of the country’s seaborne trade.

Doug morrison, director of the port of southampton, says: “the port is as important now as it ever was, it’s an international gateway. We are the number one cruise port, the number one vehicle-handling port and number two container port in the uk.”

and it has bigger plans for the future: “the important thing for us is to leave a legacy for the next 100 years. We’re building for the future and we’re looking to invest hundreds of millions of pounds to expand our existing container terminal.

the number of cruise passengers passing through southampton has doubled in the last six years. the world’s largest cruise ship company Carnival – which owns Cunard and p&o Cruises – recently opened a £19 million cruise terminal designed to enable the embarkation of 4,000 passengers

The development schemes will create an attractive destination, 6,000 jobs and a city with great investment potential

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Drew Smith Limited are a local company with a proud history of building, renovating and refurbishing in Southampton and thesurrounding areas for 20 years.

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vision

a day. proof, if it were needed, that business is booming. and the ripple effect means the local economy benefits by approximately £250 million each year from the cruise ship turn around business.

the success of the port has attracted some of the major players in the marine and maritime industry, including the maritime and Coastguard agency and the national oceanography Centre (a world-leader in oceanographic research).

the developments taking shape around the waterfront are attracting even more big names from the maritime world. Carnival showed its commitment to southampton with its investment in a new uk headquarters, maintaining 900 jobs and confirming southampton’s status as the number one cruise port in northern Europe.

Duncan trench, director of projects at Development securities, who managed the Carnival project, says: “in our recent experience of working with southampton City Council we have found the city’s decision makers to have a positive and proactive approach. the building will

undoubtedly create a new landmark in southampton and draw other major businesses to the city.”

Cultural coastWith a great waterside position, award-winning parks and some outstanding public realm regeneration on the cards, not to mention excellent road and rail networks, fantastic natural attractions on its doorstep (including beaches and the wide open spaces of the new Forest national park), southampton has the capacity to be a world-class destination for leisure and business.

the waterfront location provides great potential for attracting visitors, and residents and reviving a currently underutilised area of the city. the regeneration plans reflect this with several development projects proposed along the waterside including the new ocean Village scheme, offering a mix of leisure and living facilities, marina, events space and four-star hotel. a new boardwalk along the itchen waterfront and the £500 million Centenary Quay project, which will create a new »

Southampton Boat Show attracts 120,000 visitors annually generating over £4 million for the local economy ❝

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Facts and figures

■ Population: around 230,000

■ Economy: £4,756 million*. The GVA per head is £20,800, higher than the regional value of £20,152 (*figures from ONS Dec 2008)

■ Employment: around 7,700 businesses operate in Southampton and some 130,000 people are employed in the city. Approximately two-thirds of the city’s population are of working age

■ Industry: the most significant sectors are distribution, tourism, banking and finance-related activities

■ Education: the city has a strong higher education sector and a student population of approximately 40,000

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civic square, public gardens and a riverside walk will establish an attractive destination, dramatically changing the city’s waterfront and the face of southampton in the eyes of the visiting population.

the waterfront also provides the perfect home for the southampton Boat show. a major national event attracting 120,000 visitors it generates over £4 million for the local economy each year. the aim of the £500 million development of the Royal pier by the council, associated British ports and the Crown Estate is to make it an even bigger and better draw for visitors and exhibitors.

Currently, one of southampton’s largest attractions is its shops. a whopping 70% of day visitors come here to shop – making it 14th in Retail Week’s top towns guide. WestQuay shopping centre is currently the major attraction but plans for more retail options such as hammerson’s proposed Watermark WestQuay and the recently opened in-town ikEa superstore can only encourage visitor numbers and, hopefully, lead southampton into the top ten.

the leisure element of Watermark WestQuay – luxury multiplex cinema, hotel, cafes and restaurants packed around a continental-style plaza – could persuade

day-trippers to stay overnight turning southampton into a city break destination.

a major boost in the bid to encourage tourists, both business and leisure, to the city – as well as being a major factor for business relocations – is its airport. this is continuing to expand, providing access to more than 40 destinations via 15 airlines and tour operators. it employs over 1,200 local people and welcomes around two million passengers a year. the airport contributes over £86 million to the local economy and it is expected that by 2030, this figure will be £260 million a year.

Jan halliday, director of marketing and communications at southampton airport, says: “southampton has a long and proud history of being a gateway for global trading and travel. Very few cities in the uk can boast such excellent transport links. indeed, having an award-winning airport, and a world-renowned port, as well as fantastic road and rail links are all important factors for companies looking to locate in this region.”

in the longer term, southampton wants to capitalise on its cultural heritage, even setting its sights on becoming an international City of Culture. and it has a good grounding, home to the second-

Above:A taste of things to come. This human mobile was part of a dramatic event to celebrate the launch of the emerging Cultural Quarter.

This picture: A lighting project highlights the historic city walls.

vision


important departure/landing point throughout uk history – from the pilgrim Fathers to the arrival of the troops in preparation for the D-Day landings - events that have shaped the city. a special exhibitions gallery will host a range of national and international touring exhibitions.

integral to the regeneration plans for the city is the proposed Cultural Quarter, which will incorporate existing buildings such as the City art gallery, guildhall and mayflower theatre.

additions include the new Regional Business Centre, a six-storey office building, which will enhance the lively atmosphere of the quarter with seating from its café or restaurant spilling out onto the new square. the star of the show however, will be southampton’s £14 million new arts complex offering visual, performing, video and film and asian arts on the site previously occupied by tyrrell and green fronting onto guildhall square.

the square itself is now undergoing a major refurbishment befitting its new lease of life at the heart of the Cultural Quarter with new paving and bespoke new seating it will form the perfect venue for performing arts shows and events. as residents and visitors lucky enough to be in town on 27 June discovered as they were given a taster of the type of event they can expect to see in the square. »

Very few cities in the UK can boast such excellent transport links, an important economic factor

longest medieval walls in England, the annual sea City Festival, as well as theatres and museums. plans for the new sea City museum to celebrate the city’s links with the titanic – planned to open in 2012, the titanic’s centenary year – will add great kudos to the cultural offer.

housed within the old magistrates court building, the museum is expected to be one of the best attractions in the south of England. Exhibits and displays will tell the history of the titanic’s southampton crew, revealing the previously untold stories of this well known tragedy and demonstrating the international, national and local importance of the city’s maritime heritage. southampton City Council and the heritage Lottery Fund jointly funded the development stages of this project.

the museum will also feature a range of exhibitions exploring southampton’s role as an

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Keeping Southampton movingSOUThAmpTON hAS lONG been a major transport hub and the city council is keen to invest heavily in the maintenance and improvement of its roads and public transport systems. It aims to focus on improving accessibility, road safety, air quality and reducing congestion.

The city council and its partners are investing £22 million into improving the city’s highways – the biggest spend on Southampton’s roads. The highways scheme is part of a wider plan to improve access to the waterfront, connecting it to the city. The proposed QE2 mile is also aiming to create a more cohesive route between the city centre and the waterfront, linking to a series of new, attractive public spaces including the refurbished Guildhall Square.

A £1 million scheme has recently been proposed to create a boardwalk along part of the River Itchen to make it easier for people to cycle and walk around the city.

Brad Roynon, chief executive of Southampton City Council, confirms: “We are investing significantly in the highways network, maintaining it and making improvements, but we’re also working with the private sector providers and with neighbouring authorities, particularly with hampshire County Council, on improving the public transport offer. It’s already pretty good but I think we can expand on what we’ve got and take it further.”

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the midsummer Dreams event, produced by nuffield theatre in association with the council, was a spectacular aerial show where a drumming troupe was transformed into a human mobile suspended over the square, witnessed by 7,000 people.

Global reach and a knowledge economythe most significant sectors in southampton’s economy are finance, distribution, banking and tourism. the city has joined together with other councils in south hampshire to establish the partnership for urban south hampshire (push) to create a strategy for economic-led growth. the initiative aims to achieve an annual economic growth rate of 3.5% generating 59,000 additional jobs and 2 million extra square metres of commercial floorspace by 2026.

With two universities and approximately 40,000 students, graduate retention is a vital aspect of boosting the city’s economy. the university of southampton as one of the uk’s leading teaching and research universities creates essential links between the university and the local business community. ground breaking research projects at the university include the

creation of anti-cancer Dna vaccines while the university’s national oceanography Centre, which opened in 1995, is one of the top five research institutes in the world, leading the way in ocean and earth science.

the university has set up knowledge transfer partnerships to benefit local companies and its focus on innovation and entrepreneurship is transforming academic research into commercial businesses, generating over 70 business start-ups and spin-out companies to date, many of which are based in and around the city.

indeed, the university of southampton science park has attracted 50 science and technology based companies including household names such as BskyB and an enterprise hub to encourage growth of new business. the park is currently being expanded into a 3.5-hectare site on the Benham Campus to accommodate growing demand.

the university is investing more than £250 million in its estate. this includes the redevelopment of its Boldrewood campus as a maritime centre of excellence facilitating teaching and collaborative groundbreaking research, with an emphasis on the knowledge-led economy.

Research and technology is one

This picture:The city’s port generates around £2 billion a year for the local economy and approximately 12,000 jobs.

10

of southampton’s real strengths and is the focus at millbrook technology Campus (mtC), which opened in 2007, accommodating start-up companies specialising in multimedia technology, biochemistry, electronic systems and micro electronics. tenants include primer Design, the company responsible for creating the Dna testing kits for swine flu. mtC won the 2008 Enterprising Britain competition for the south East and has worked with solent Education Business partnership to raise aspirations of local young people through business and education links.

southampton City Council is very aware that development in the city needs to be holistic, it is not just about new buildings but creating links, engaging the community and looking to the future. southampton City Renaissance has avoided the pitfalls of piecemeal regeneration, so the refurbishment of guildhall square, the QE2 mile and riverside boardwalk will sit well alongside some of the proposed new buildings such as Watermark WestQuay and southampton’s new arts complex, making it an appealing place not only for businesses but for residents, visitors and newcomers, which will also increase its appeal for investors and developers. ●

The investment spearheaded by WestQuay, means the shopping centre has leading international brands as neighbours, including Cruise operator Carnival who have opened a new global headquarters in the area, and Ikea opening its first store on the south coast less than 500 metres away.

The latest initiative is the renewal of a four hectare brownfield site immediately adjacent to WestQuay. The site offers a unique opportunity for urban regeneration and Hammerson has been awarded outline planning approval for the scheme.

Watermark WestQuay, designed by Foreign Office Architects, has been created to complement the medieval walls in Southampton’s old town, which will form an impressive backdrop to the development.

The mixed-used scheme will include a public plaza and continental-style café and restaurant quarter, a pocket park, up to 24,000m2 of retail space, a luxury cinema and hotel and a landmark residential tower comprising up to 240 apartments.

In addition to delivering exceptional architecture, and new retailers to complement WestQuay’s offer, Watermark WestQuay will also enhance the local economy with the creation of a further 1,000 retail and leisure jobs.

David Atkins Hammerson managing director UK commented: “We have a proven track record in Southampton with WestQuay Shopping Centre delivering a strong retail focus for the city. Watermark WestQuay will create a renewed setting for the currently underutilised historic walls with the public plaza providing a revitalised public realm for the city.”

“Our continued involvement and investment in Southampton will help ensure the city remains the destination of choice for the south coast.”

Developed in 2000 by Hammerson, WestQuay’s impact is still a significant barometer of Southampton’s success. With over 90 retail operators creating over 2,500 jobs, the shopping centre provided a welcome boost for the local economy and remains an essential part of the employment market today.

When it launched, WestQuay brought new brands to the city including H&M, Karen Millen, French Connection and GAP. Nearly a decade on, it continues to attract both the best of British high street and emerging international brands. Latest additions include Apple, Fat Face and most recently, Hollister, an Abercrombie & Fitch Company brand.

Hammerson has a strong record of carrying out successful major regeneration projects in partnership with local authorities. Its project management skills enable it to carry out complex developments, revitalising city centres and the gateways to towns, such as Bullring in Birmingham and more recently, Cabot Circus in Bristol and Highcross Leicester. Its leadership is reinforced by a long-term view: adopting business practices across the group that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. Hammerson’s aim is to be the developer and property owner of choice for both partners and our occupiers.

www.west-quay.co.uk

watermarkWestQuay

A major catalyst for the regeneration of Southampton, WestQuay Shopping Centre was a key driver in attracting additional investment in the city and put Southampton firmly on the retail map.

WQ_FF2290_Watermark_Ad.indd 1 29/5/09 17:06:44

http://www.west-quay.co.uk

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An in-depth look at the schemes and developments that are part of Southampton’s £1.7 billion regeneration plans for the city centre and waterfront. Alex Aspinall reports

What’s happening, where and when

projects

»

01 Cultural Quarter02 Ocean Village03 IKEA04 Watermark WestQuay05 Carnival06 Lower High Street07 Police Headquarters08 Regional Business Centre09 Gantry/MayflowerTheatre10 Central Station11 Centenary Quay12 MayflowerPlaza13 Ordnance Survey, Adanac Park14 West Quay 3 Site B15 TheQE2Mile16 Royal Pier Waterfront17 Maritime Centre of Excellence

02 11➞


Taking centre stage in the Cultural Quarter will be Southampton’s £14 million new arts complex. Grosvenor has recently been confirmed as the developer for the project working with architect CZWG.

The complex will bring together Art Asia, City Eye, the John Hansard Gallery and the Nuffield Theatre 2 and directly employ around 140 staff.

The 7,000sq m of space will include auditoriums, studios and gallery space offering an ambitious range of programmes and events aimed at encouraging access to the arts for all and developing local creative industries.

Occupying the site of the former Tyrrell and Green building the development will look out onto the

redesigned Guildhall Square. The mixed-use project will provide retail and restaurant units on the ground and mezzanine floors and apartments alongside the arts complex. Completion is expected around 2014.

Southampton City Council is working with Arts Council England to secure a £5.7 million grant for this project.

Southampton’s new arts complex


projects

Cultural QuarterSouthampton City Council’s ambitious plans to create a brand new Cultural Quarteraremovingforward.Theconceptincludes projects such as Southampton’s new arts complex, Sea City Museum, the Regional Business Centre and the redevelopment of Guildhall Square.

Thenewquarterwillbuilduponthecity’s existing cultural activity including theMayflowerTheatreandregionalBBC headquarters creating a dynamic, mixed-use quarter.

The QE2 Mile The QE2 Mile stretches from the Cenotaph down to the waterfront and sits at the heart of the city’s commercial, retail and leisure offer. The project is designed to reconnect the city centre with its waterfront as well as reinvigorate principle streets in the city by enriching the public realm, giving priority to pedestrians and creating memorable streets.

Improvements to public realm are often associated with a city’s ability to attract inward investment, as reported by CABE in its 2007 report ‘Paved with Gold: The real value of street design’.

Mark Evans, city development manager at Southampton City Council, explains: “We want people to recognise that Southampton has a heart and for the QE2 Mile to contribute to drawing visitors, residents and businesses into the city centre.

“Investment of around £7 million from Southampton City Council has ensured that progress has been made on the QE2 Mile including road re-surfacing, new paving and street furniture creating a less cluttered and more pleasant environment for pedestrians.

“Local businesses are already enjoying the benefits of improvements that have been completed so far with cafes in particular benefiting from the opportunity to spill out onto the pavements creating continental style eating.”

Guildhall SquareGuildhall Square is currently undergoing major refurbishment and sits at the heart of the Cultural Quarter. Aggregate Industries started work on the square in September 2009 and it is due forcompletionAugust2010.Theimprovements to the square include new paving, lighting and bespoke seating, which will contribute to creating a new setting for performing arts and seasonal events.


Mayflower PlazaTerraceHill’s£70millionMayflowerPlazascheme,located between the Civic CentreandtheMayflowerTheatre,willfeatureanimpressive mix of uses, including over 10,000sq m ofofficespace,a150-bedhotel and 180 residential apartments, situated at the heart of the city centre.

NigelWakefield,development director at TerraceHill,says:“Itisprobably one of the best sites in Southampton, and it has been vacant for 20 years now. We are bringing a scheme forward that is one of the largest Southampton has seen for several years.”

Adanac ParkOrdnance Survey marked their continuing commitment to the city of Southampton in April 2009, when ground was broken at the site of their new headquarters at Adanac Park, situated alongside the M271.

Thecompany,whichhas been based in the city for over 160 years, will move its 1,100 workforce into their new 16,400sq m home towards the end of 2010.Thenewbuildinghasbeen designed to better meet Ordnance Survey’s spatial and technological requirements, and has sustainability at its heart, with low energy use guaranteed by the presence of natural ventilation to cut down on air conditioning and by using the ground as a source to heat and cool the building.

Watermark WestQuay April 2009 saw outline planning permission secured for Hammerson’s £150 million Watermark WestQuay development. The project will see the old Pirelli factory site transformed into a unique mixed-use development.

The scheme, designed by Foreign Office Architects, will be set around a 3,500sq m new public plaza, with the historic town walls providing an impressive backdrop. The four-hectare site will offer a 150-bed hotel, 200 residential units, a multi-screen cinema, cafes and restaurants and up to

24,000sq m of retail space. Russell Beresford, project manager for

Hammerson, commented: “We are delighted with Southampton City Council’s decision on Watermark WestQuay. We are continuing our discussions with retailers and leisure operators so we are in a positive position to advance the scheme when conditions improve.

“We remain committed to the development and Watermark WestQuay will continue our successful investment in the city, ensuring Southampton remains a vibrant retail and leisure destination.”

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Royal Pier WaterfrontTheredevelopmentofthewaterfront at the Royal Pier is a vital element of the city’s regeneration.Theprojectcovers an area in excess of 14.5-hectares, and is likely to include a mix of uses includingcommercialofficespace, leisure and retail units, a hotel and apartments.

ThesiteincludesMayflowerPark,andtheRoyal Pier itself, which was firstopenedin1833.Thedevelopment will improve Southampton’s public realm at the waterfront, and provide a permanent home for the annual Southampton Boat Show, which attracted over 120,000 visitors in 2009. Southampton City Council is working with ABP and the Crown Estates to achieve a world-class waterfront development.

Regional Business CentreConstruction on the new building began in March 2009. It is designed to complement Southampton’s new Cultural Quarter and diversify the mix of uses in the area.

The 7,262sq m, six-storey office building will house Capita’s new state-of-the-art customer services centre, in addition to cafe and retail outlets, with seating spilling out onto the newly redesigned Guildhall Square.

The city’s new Regional Business Centre brings the site of the former C&A building on Northern Above Bar back into use. Completion is expected in spring 2010, and Southampton City Council will take over 2,000sq m of space within the development.

Gantry/Mayflower TheatreWorkisnowunderwayonthefirststageofconstructionatthenewMayflowerGantry development.

Thisisthefirstoftwostagesof construction that will create a new access and scene dock facility on the western side of the theatre ensuring facilities are up to date and can cope with the demands of touringproductions.Thetheatre’stransformation will ease the movement

of larger productions available pre and post West End and boost the cultural reputation of the city.

Thesecondstageofthebuildwillcreate115flats,with65%ofthoseforaffordablehousing,onthesitebehindthetheatre.Thedevelopment’spartners include Atlantic Housing, Drew Smith,MayflowerTheatre,HomesandCommunities Agency and Southampton City Council.


projects

Ocean VillageSouthampton’s waterfront areas are among its most prized assets and the success of the developments along them is likely todefinethecity’sregeneration.Theschemes proposed and coming forward along the waterfront all have quality of design, and the creation of a sense of place at their heart, and Ocean Village provides no exception to the rule.

MDL Developments’ scheme includes 130 residential units, comprising a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, a 3,500sq m innovation centreofferingofficeaccommodation, a multi-storey car park, and the 224-bed Millennium Hotel, which is to include waterside restaurants and bars.

CarnivalCarnival UK’s new headquarters in the heart ofSouthamptonwasofficiallyopenedinJuly2009.The14,000sqmbuilding,byDevelopmentSecurities in conjunction with Aviva Investors, occupies the West Quay III site and was completed two months ahead of schedule – quite an achievement in the current climate.

Thesitewillplayhostto1,118Carnivalstaff,consolidatingtheirUKoperationbymovingstafffromfivedifferentlocationsintoonepurpose-built headoffice.


IKEAIKEA opened its 18th UK store in Southampton in February 2009.ThousandsofpeopleturnedouttowitnesstheevolutionofSouthampton’sretailoffer,asthe£80millionstore opened its doors for business.

The34,000sqmstore,whichisexpectedtoattractuptotwo million customers a year, has created nearly 500 jobs, andhasaddedsignificantlytoSouthampton’sretailscene.And early signs are good, with the company reporting 335,000visitstothestoreduringitsfirstmonthoftrading.

Councillor Royston Smith, city council cabinet member foreconomicdevelopment,says:“IKEAhasprovidedanadditionalboosttotheretailofferinSouthampton.Thereisalsoaconcertedeffortinthecitycentretoimplementa range of strategies dealing with vacant units. It’s not justaboutshopping;thecityalsooffers–work,learning,leisure, heritage, cafes, restaurants, theatre, culture and high quality city living.”

New police headquartersBuilding work has started on Southampton police’s purpose-built headquarters.

Located on a 1.35-hectare site on Southern Road the landmark eight-storey, 13,000sq m building will housemorethan500staffmembersandbenefitfroma state-of-the-art custody centre with 42 cells.

Theofficialground-breaking ceremony took place in October 2009 and Southampton-based Brazier Construction, part of the Kier Group, anticipate that the scheme will be complete and ready for occupation by August 2010.

Central StationPlans are afoot to redevelop Southampton’s railway station over the next 10-15 years, to create a more appropriate arrival point for visitors to the city.

Alastair Dobson, city development manager at Southampton City Council, says:“Itisimportantthatwe have a good quality railway station because it is the gateway to the city. For people arriving at the station with no prior knowledge of the city, the railway station istheirfirstimpression.Itsays something about the city, and the city has got a lot going for it. ”

West Quay 3 site BJuly 2009 saw planning consent granted for the development of a 155-bed Premier Inn hotel at the West Quay site in Southampton’s city centre.

The scheme, being brought forward by Development Securities, will also see the creation of a 6,000sq m office development, designed to complement the nearby Carnival UK headquarters.

Duncan Trench, of Development Securities, says: “We are thrilled to have been granted planning permission at West Quay to extend our development. The hotel and office building are an exciting part of the regeneration of West Quay in the heart of Southampton’s city centre, and we look forward to starting construction soon.”


projects

Lower High StreetTheareaaroundLowerHigh Street, located in the city’smedievalOldTownquarter, continues to hold aspecialsignificanceamidSouthampton’s continued regeneration activity.

Thecouncilisworkingwith its development partner to create a residential-led, mixed-use scheme to re-establish the area, which is currently underutilised.

Theprojectwillneedtoincorporate and realise the opportunities provided by the unique heritage assets on the site.

Maritime Centre of Excellence The University of Southampton’s Maritime Centre of Excellence (MCE) is set to secure the city’s position at the heart of the UK’s knowledge economy. The reinvigorated Bolderwood Campus (above) will become a world-leading centre for innovation, research and education in maritime engineering, engineering sciences and other maritime disciplines.

The university has been working closely with leading maritime classification and independent risk management organisation Lloyd’s Register to deliver detailed plans for the first phase of the MCE. These plans include the creation of a maritime institute, bringing together academic and business communities under one roof, and accommodation for the marine activities of Lloyd’s Register.

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) has stated its support for the project, as it has done with other maritime-based developments in the city, and is working closely with the university to ensure the project’s benefits are shared by SMEs as well as the larger organisations in the city and Solent maritime cluster.

Outline plans for the redevelopment met with approval in 2008, with the detailed plans for Phase 1 approved earlier this year. Some work is already under way to prepare the site for the development of the new campus, with the main construction anticipated to start in 2012.

Centenary QuayThedevelopmentbyCrestNicholsonwillrevitalise this section of the waterfront delivering more than 1,600 homes, a hotel,offices,asupermarket,library,health centre and three waterfront apartment towers. A public plaza will also be created as a centrepiece surrounded by shops, cafes and restaurants.

Mark Denyer, development executive at Crest Nicholson Regeneration is optimistic about the development’s impactonthecity.Hesays:“Theprojectis going to be important for Woolston town centre, because it links it to the riverside. It also looks at bringing the footfall up into Woolston, with the range of uses we are delivering.”

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culture

The term regeneration conjures up images of new housing, office blocks, shopping centres and upgraded train stations. But improving the quality of life in a city is about more than just buildings, says Alex Aspinall

State of the arts

continued over page »


The key to regeneration is to animate and bring people into an area, and culture does that very well,” claims councillor Royston Smith, cabinet

member for economic development. “The idea of an exciting yet accessible place enlivens and invigorates an area throughout the day, and in the evening as well. This kind of regeneration can benefit a broad cross-section of people.” And this is the motivation behind Southampton’s ambitions for a new Cultural Quarter in the heart of the city by 2014. It will put Southampton on the national cultural map and provide an economic boost to complement the city’s strengths in science and technology. It is forecast to create more than 2,000 jobs and an additional £21 million visitor spend annually.

Southampton’s Cultural Quarter project will re-energise existing cultural facilities in the Guildhall area of the city, including the Mayflower Theatre. It will do this by adding in the missing pieces of the cultural jigsaw which the city currently lacks – a major new arts complex, an outdoor performance and meeting space, and a new heritage museum with special exhibitions gallery.

Guildhall Square will be transformed into a central hub of activity, as a meeting place for tourists, residents, workers and students which is vibrant, busy and friendly. Due for completion in Autumn 2010, this will form the heart of the city’s £175 million

The key to regeneration is to animate and bring people into an area, and culture does that very well

Cultural Quarter programme, and will connect it to the rest of the city, its medieval old town and the waterfront via the QE2 Mile (see page 20).

The new arts complex will comprise the first two floors of a landmark building overlooking the square. It will create a cultural mix bringing together the South Asian performance arts of Art Asia; John Hansard Gallery; film and video making resources of City Eye; and the dance, music drama and comedy of Nuffield Theatre 2.

The project will include a 370-seat performance space, a 100-seat multi-purpose hall, a video suite, four production suites, a 1,000sq m contemporary art gallery, a recording studio and a café bar. There will be prominent foyer entrances leading up to the arts space at street level, integrated with retail/restaurant units at ground and mezzanine floors. The floors above the art space will »

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The Guggenheim effectThe BilBao region of Spain waS suffering economic decline and social deprivation before implementing its ambitious regeneration scheme. In addition to infrastructure improvements, there was a focus on the role the arts could play within the region’s renaissance. Some were shocked by the decision to spend over €154 million on a museum of modern art. But in 2007, 10 years after it opened, the guggenheim Museum Bilbao attracted more than a million visitors. Estimates place the total direct expenditure in the Basque Country generated by the museum at over €242 million (or €243 per visitor) and indicate that it has helped to maintain 4,399 jobs.

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comprise residential flats with roof terraces. Completion is expected in 2014.

“What makes the Cultural Quarter so significant is that it brings together so many like-minded cultural and arts organisations into one place.” Stephen Foster, director John Hansard Gallery continues: “It is far greater than the sum of its parts, regenerating this part of the city in a way that no one organisation could achieve alone. The university recognised early on the importance of what the Cultural Quarter would achieve and wanted to be a part of it.

“The university is making a considerable investment to expand the gallery to be part of the new arts complex. We are excited about the prospect of the addition of a tailor-made space allowing us to exhibit and commission a greater range of contemporary and performance art.”

The Sea City Museum will transform the old magistrates court to the west of the quarter into a national heritage museum attraction. Councillor John Hannides, cabinet member for leisure, culture and heritage comments: “For the first time the city’s wealth of maritime heritage will be displayed in one place, drawing in visitors from far and wide and creating a wonderful learning resource for the city.

“The special exhibitions gallery planned as part of the project will enable the city to host touring and temporary arts and heritage shows from national and international museums and galleries.”

Improvements are also planned for Southampton Solent University’s Sir James Matthews building, which faces onto Guildhall Square. It is already home to lecture theatres, teaching facilities and the Centre for Professional Development in Broadcasting and Multimedia Production. “As well as the refurbishment and redesign of Guildhall Square the Cultural Quarter will breathe new life into an area of Southampton that has enormous potential for the regeneration and showcasing of

creativity and innovation,” observes pro-vice chancellor Keith Johnson. “Southampton Solent University’s presence within the planned Cultural Quarter is of the highest possible value to us given the very high premium placed by the university on its cultural and creative work within the city centre and the community.”

The Cultural Quarter project was launched earlier this year with a spectacular aerial event in Guildhall Square with a ‘human mobile’ suspended 40m above the crowd. The inaugural event is part of a programme of performances planned to punctuate the milestones reached as the

The Cultural Quarter will breathe new life into an area of Southampton that has enormous potential

n Mayflower Theatre one of the three most successful theatres outside london, and the largest in the south with over 400,000 visitors a year

n Southampton City Art Gallery 3,500 works of art and one of only 12 nationally important collections outside London

n Sea City Museum the old magistrates court will be transformed into a major national heritage museum celebrating Southampton’s 2,000 year history as a global maritime port and gateway to the world

n Southampton Guildhall the south’s biggest multipurpose entertainment venue attracts 170,000 visitors a year to see the likes of David Bowie, Kaiser Chiefs, Ting Tings and many others

n Guildhall Square is being transformed into an attractive and animated meeting place

What’s on Among other attractions, the new Cultural Quarter will include:

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quarter develops; inspiring residents and visitors alike to explore the spaces and make their mark on how they are used.

“Realising the plans for the Cultural Quarter is essential to Southampton’s vision for economic and cultural regeneration,” says Smith. “It will create a critical mass of cultural opportunity stimulating the visitor, daytime, evening and night time economies as well as providing a quality place for local people to enjoy and feel proud of.”

Of course cultural developments aren’t restricted to the Cultural Quarter. Southampton has a rich heritage and has always boasted a lively arts scene. ●


become a global ‘hot spot’ in the field of nutraceuticals, according to the Future of Business report by HSBC Commercial Banking and research consultancy The Future Laboratory. Nutraceuticals are foods with health and beauty benefits – an industry worth $80 billion a year globally, according to research company Compera.

Southampton General Hospital, a large teaching hospital providing specialist expertise to the South of England is linked to the university. It is a centre of excellence for treatment of cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness, neurological disease, gastro-intestinal conditions and children’s illnesses. The hospital, which has 7,500 staff, plays a leading role in the development of new and improved treatments for NHS patients.

Another university initiative is the 18-hectare Southampton Science Park, home to more than 50 firms working in pharmaceuticals, software design, satellite broadcasting and mobile telecommunications – including global corporations such as BSkyB and Merck. Now it is developing an adjacent 3.5-hectare site, the Benham Campus, into five buildings totalling 9,300sq m, as a base for science and technology companies. The first (speculative) phase, of two buildings of 891sq m and 1,467sq m, respectively, was due for completion as Forward went to press.

Since 1969, the University of Southampton has launched over 50 ‘spin-out’ companies in fields from oil and gas exploration to pharmaceuticals and nanotechnology – globally it is ranked behind only Stanford and Cambridge at developing commercial businesses from its research activities. The 12 businesses that have ‘spun-out’ since 2000 have been floated on the Alternative Investment Market for a combined value of £160 million, according to a report »

Smart workAs the birthplace of the hovercraft and the Spitfire, and with an illustrious maritime history, it’s clear that Southampton’s residents are an ingenious crowd. Julie Mackintosh investigates

Southampton is a dynamo of creative activity where forward thinking ideas are transformed into twenty-first century reality. It’s always been an innovative

city: this is where the hovercraft and the Spitfire were created. But that inventive streak didn’t stop there – it’s still going strong today. From phase change memory materials to DNA detection kits and plastics that are a billion times more electrically conductive than other polymers and resins, Southampton is a hotbed of knowledge and creativity.

Much of the planned development in the city will encourage the growth of this skills pool. The £80 million project at Ocean Village includes a 3,500sq m innovation centre for knowledge-based industries. When it’s completed the centre will benefit from links with the university’s National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, which is home to over 500 scientists and one of the top five research institutions of its kind in the world. Geochemistry, coastal processes, climate change and ocean modelling are just a few of the topics worked on at the centre.

Research is a priority at the University of Southampton, which is listed eighth for research in the Sunday Times university league table and was ranked 80th best university in the world last year by the Times higher education supplement. The pioneering work undertaken here includes the development of anti-cancer DNA vaccines (being tested in clinical trials), the development of virtual sound – used in the home cinema industry and at the Optoelectronics Research Centre, they laid the foundations for the internet with the development of fibre optics.

There are clear commercial benefits to Southampton from its profile as a global centre of learning. The expansion of higher education, research and closely-linked commercial R&D facilities will see the city

Fast track your business. Expertise on your doorstep

The University of Southampton is one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurial universities with a strong track record for collaborating with business and creating pioneering companies from University innovations.

We are continuing to grow links with the commercial world and companies can access our knowledge, resources and facilities through research and consultancy packages, including the RJ Mitchell wind tunnel that was used by the British Cycling team for aerodynamics testing to help them win Gold at the Beijing Olympics.

The expertise of our staff and students is in high demand from business and public bodies and we are a leading provider of professional development and education helping build the skills of the region’s workforce.

http://www.southampton.ac.uk/business


skills

The university’s National Oceanography Centre is one of the top five research institutions of its kind in the world❞

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this year by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts.

It’s no surprise, then, to hear Southampton City Council economic development manager Jeff Walters say: “The university is increasingly an asset in terms of both its research contracts and spin-off businesses. It could really be considered as a valuable global company.”

But it is not the only university in Southampton. Southampton Solent University is one of the UK’s newest with 18,000 students and a focus on business, the maritime industry, sport and technology as well as creative subjects such as media, arts and music.

Solent has been named a Skillset Media Academy excelling in live events, location,

studio and post production. It also has a new £1 million music recording studio, a £1.3 million sports laboratory and undertakes world-leading research within the visual arts, general engineering and law.

The comprehensive regeneration plans for the city are also creating new opportunities, particularly in expanding the city’s retail skills base. IKEA opened a new store in February and the city council obtained a section 106 agreement that included a two-day course for over 100 local unemployed people. The courses focused on improving confidence, motivation and preparation for the assessment process, all attendees were guaranteed an interview for one of the 500 jobs. The programme was a finalist in Jobcentre Plus’ Local

The university is increasingly an asset in terms of both its research contracts and spin-off businesses

Previous page and above:The National Oceanography Centre and Southampton General Hospital (above) are both linked to the University of Southampton.

Employment Partnership awards 2009. The city has continued to build on its

maritime heritage. Port of Southampton is home to the UK’s second largest container terminal and handles 42 million tonnes of cargo a year (7% of the UK’s total seaborne trade). Southampton is widely recognised as the capital of the UK’s cruise industry, with an estimated 290 cruise calls carrying over a million passengers through the port last year. Owner Associated British Ports has just completed a new £19 million cruise ship terminal, following investments of over £30 million in new facilities over recent years.

The city’s maritime hub fuels other businesses ranging from petrochemicals to maritime law. The University of

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Right and opposite page:Southampton Solent University excells in the arts. The National Oceanography Centre is a world-leader in research (opposite page top).

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skills


services and marine sectors. Our approach to tackling this is very much employer-focused, asking what they need and how we can combine this while addressing wider social issues, particularly economic inactivity. There has been a real enthusiasm for the idea across the city and, although co-ordination of this scale is never easy, progress is already being made.”

Gore highlights SITES (Southampton Information, Training and Employment Services partnership) as a successful initiative. “We are working with a range of partners including Sure Start, Jobcentre Plus, the City Council’s Adult Learning and Skills team, the Wheatsheaf Trust, local colleges and, of course, employers,” adds Southampton City Council’s regeneration projects manager Fiona McMurray. SITES brings all of these partners together to provide tailored training to improve skills levels, reduce unemployment and help local people find jobs. The remit covers everything necessary to enable people to get the job they want, from childcare and debt issues to helping gain qualifications and assisting candidates with CVs and interview readiness.

Southampton’s proposed Maritime Centre of Excellence will offer maritime engineering, engineering sciences, and other relevant disciplines. Planning permission was granted for phase one in February.

Yacht builder Palmer Johnson is soon to open a base in the city to build £100 million bespoke yachts – the largest leisure craft of their kind to be built in the UK. According to South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), who secured the deal, Southampton beat off competition from Dubai, France and Turkey.

“We are keen to tap into the marine skills base of the region in terms of training programmes with local colleges and partnerships with local suppliers and subcontractors,” says Palmer Johnson director Ronald Staub.

It’s a formidable skills base: more than a quarter of residents are educated to degree level or above and 45% have two or more A-levels. So it is no surprise that average annual wages here are higher than the national average at £26,902. The number of residents with no qualifications stands at just over 12%, lower than the UK-wide 13.8%.

But there is still work to be done, Southampton Solent University vice-chancellor, professor Van Gore, who is also chairman of the city’s Skills and Employability Board, warns: “Analysis tells us there are skills gaps in the retail, public

More than a quarter of residents are educated to degree level or above and 45% have two or more A-levels

PrimerDesign created the world’s first DNA test for the recent Mexican strain of Swine Flu. Test kits developed by the firm can diagnose a suspected sufferer within two hours. The company was founded by University of Southampton scientists and is based at Millbrook Technology Campus, a 4.6-hectare facility opened in 2007 for start-up and established technology businesses. The campus was developed by Southampton City Council, the University of Southampton and semiconductor manufacturer NXP.

Developed from the University of Southampton’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, Symetrica has a $222 million contract with the US Department of Homeland Security to provide next-generation radiation detection and identification systems.

Dr Dennis Doerffel was conducting research into low-cost, large Li-Ion battery cells at the University of Southampton when his published test results drew industry interest and led to the creation of REAPsystems, which now supplies manufacturers of battery and vehicle manufacturers and other companies worldwide.

REAPsystems batteries powered electronic equipment on three yachts racing in the 2006 Americas Cup.

High tech on the Hampshire Coast

Some of Southampton’s cutting edge businesses

With a university student population of approximately 40,000 graduate retention is a priority. The city’s target is to retain 6,000 graduates each year, partly through the Graduate Jobs South (GJS) recruitment website launched in April 2007 and now funded by the two Southampton universities and the University of Winchester.

With more than 1,000 employers registered GJS works with local companies to identify and advertise graduate vacancies and encourage students to remain within the regional economy once they have completed their degrees. ●

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An example of a successful partnership between CareCapital and Southampton City Council, Southampton City PCT and Swathling Housing Society to deliver a community and healthcare venture in an urban regeneration setting.

City Gateway will play its part in promoting Swaythling as a vibrant, up and coming area in which to live and work. This landmark building, with its elegant 14-storey tower, located on one of the City’s main arterial routes will welcome visitors to Southampton. It will provide a state of-the-art medical centre, community pharmacy, a

City Gateway range of community facilities, residential accommodation and a convenience store, helping to regenerate the district of Swaythling.

This scheme will breathe life into the heart of the community and as a consequence help to create much needed jobs locally.

The tower will house a mixture of affordable social and open market housing, ranging in size from one-bedroom apartments to a spacious top floor duplex offering stunning views across the City.

Due for completion late 2011, City Gateway is an example of one of CareCapital’s innovative developments. CareCapital understands the needs of a wide range of communities and meet, if not exceed, their expectations. Working in partnership with Primary Care Trusts, local authorities and medical practitioners, CareCapital create purpose built medical and community buildings that respond to current and future healthcare needs.

CareCapital is a developer and investor in primary healthcare real estate, partnering the NHS, GPs, Dentists and other clinical service providers – in the UK and Germany – to develop uniquely tailored, cost-effective and sustainable healthcare and community facilities.

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City Gateway stands at the junction of High Road and Thomas Lewis Way, under three miles from the city centre and a mile from Southampton airport.

CareCapital are working on a range of community based projects, both here in the UK and in Germany. Our portfolio ranges from multi-occupancy medical centres to single GP surgeries.

For more information on City Gateway or other CareCapital developments please contact Shaun Adams, Development Manager on 0207 034 1949 or email [email protected]

For leasing opportunities please contact our Prime Space Manager, Jay Sinclair on 0207 034 1949 or email [email protected]

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visitor economy

Southampton’s strategic approach to the visitor economy – worth over £300 million per year – is improving the city’s appeal to business and leisure visitors, as Lane Palmer finds out

Making waves

»

Heathrow today as a point of arrival and departure for the tens of thousands who left its shores on ships bound for the US, Australia and Africa.

And today Southampton certainly remains a gateway destination. Over one million cruise passengers pass through the port annually, on around 300 cruises. The Queen Elizabeth will take her maiden voyage from Southampton in 2010, using the new £19 million Ocean Cruise Terminal which, along with operator Carnival’s new 14,000sq m headquarters at Harbour Parade in the city centre, illustrate the huge investment that supports this rapidly growing sector.

“Cruises to the Baltic, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean start and finish in Southampton, generating a sizeable market for pre- and post-cruise packages,”

TOUriSM gEnErATES £300 million a year in Southampton, from three million day trips and two million overnight stays a year.

if you’re thinking of UK tourist destinations, Southampton might not be the first that springs to mind. But the industry supports 6,000 jobs in the city and is going from strength to strength. So what drives Southampton’s visitor economy?

its location certainly helps. Southampton has always been a key international travel hub, thanks to its port. in 1840 a rail link with London was completed, after which docks were built next to the terminal and the port town of Southampton became known as Britain’s gateway to the empire. From the mid-19th century until after the First World War, it was on a par with


year. According to airport figures, the single biggest passenger group, accounting for nearly 38% of flights, is the business visitor, a strong sector for Southampton.

A whopping 120,000 visitors attended this year’s annual 10-day Southampton Boat Show. This year another event, Ocean Business, saw almost 3,000 attendees at its exhibition for the ocean technology industry in April/May (close to double the previous year’s figure), while Seawork hosted over 7,000 visitors for its business to business event for the commercial marine and workboat sector in June (up 9% on 2008, including a 16% increase in foreign visitors).

Southampton competes strongly for smaller events with rivals Portsmouth and reading, and for larger events with Brighton, according to Shirley Pinn of

This page above and below: The Southampton Boat Show attracted 120,00 visitors last year.The De Vere hotel is just one of Southampton’s quality hotels.

says Southampton City Council tourism manager David Wood.

“Many major hotel brands have a presence here, and visitors use the city as a base from which to explore regional attractions such as the new Forest, Winchester and Stonehenge,” Wood adds. The isle of Wight is another significant local destination. A quarter of a million people each year travel there from Southampton with red Funnel ferries.

Air travel is another factor in Southampton’s flourishing visitor economy. Early seaplanes flying out of Southampton in the 1930s were among the world’s first international passenger flights. Today Southampton Airport operates flights to over 40 UK and European cities, and sees around two million passenger journeys a

❝ 53% of Southampton Boat Show attendees said they would be likely to visit again. And who could blame them, the city has plenty to offer visitors ❞

visitor economy


Exhibitors generated between £50.3 million and £97.7 million in sales during and after the show; that’s between nine and 18% of turnover for those businesses, 13% of which are Southampton firms and 31% from the South East of England.

in addition, 85% of attendees said they would not have visited the city if not for the show – and 53% said that, because of the show, they would be more likely to visit again as tourists.

And who could blame them? The city has plenty to offer visitors; Southampton has a flourishing arts scene: the Mayflower Theatre is the largest in southern England, for example, attracting 400,000 visitors a year, and is being significantly upgraded as part of the plans for a new Cultural »

Three million day trips and two million overnight stays are made in Southampton each year (according to a 2007 Tourism South East survey)

£97.3 million was spent by overnight visitors to the city. Overseas visitors account for 15% of all overnight stays - but 31% of the spend

Approximately 5.2 million people live within 80km of Southampton and 57% of them visit the city annually - a total of nearly three million people

Expenditure by friends and relatives on visitors, and visitors’ spend on second homes (eg. maintenance) generates over £15 million a year

37% of domestic visitors and 53% of overseas visitors stayed in serviced accommodation. Approximately 14% of total trip expenditure went towards accommodation costs

Southampton’s visitor economy is worth around £300 million annually

Southampton’s visitor economy

day trips and

overnight stays are made in Southampton annually.

3m2m

Destination Southampton, the city’s free conference bureau service. now, with the Ocean Cruise Terminal open and the recently expanded City Cruise Terminal, she says Southampton has the type, quality and profile of venue to compete with Bournemouth for esteemed events.

With an international airport, short travel time (one hour) to London, venues that cater for up to 2,200 people theatre-style and 3,000 city-centre hotel beds (the city attracts two million overnight stays a year) it is not hard to see why Southampton is the perfect event destination.

Why do conferences matter? According to the Southampton Partnership AiF study of the 2006 Southampton Boat Show, the event generated a spend in the city of £10.5 million and supported 284 net jobs.

This page: Carnival’s £19 million new cruise terminal will welcome international visitors to Southampton.

forward Southampton’s regeneration magazine

Quarter (see page 23 for more). The City Art gallery’s collection of 3,500

works is one of only 12 outside London recognised as being nationally significant featuring Monet and Lowry among others. Southampton also has a fine selection of museums: the Solent Sky (pictured above right) is home to the Spitfire and some excellent aviation exhibits, for example.

Meanwhile Southampton’s oldest museum the Tudor House Museum is currently the focus of a £3.5 million restoration and enhancement project. Phase one of the repair works is already complete, phase two will develop the building into a popular visitor attraction with displays and experiences which will tell the story of the 500 year-old house and the people who lived and worked there.

There are plans for a world-class tourist attraction detailing Southampton’s role in the Titanic story. The proposed Sea City Museum expects that its rMS Titanic Story exhibit will attract over 100,000 visitors a year. The £28 million museum, which will sit within the Civic Centre within the new Cultural Quarter, will open in 2012. Councillor John Hannides, says: “Southampton was the home of the Titanic so it is only fitting that we tell our story.”

Southampton also has a wealth of heritage. The city’s historic Old Town, which includes the 12th century Tudor House museum as well as the City Walls and Bargate, was recognised by English Heritage this year as one of the country’s best looked after conservation areas.

But it is not all museums and art galleries. Music lovers can enjoy lectures, talks and concerts by international artists (especially jazz and classical) at the

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Turner Sims Concert Hall, which stages over 60 performances a year. While the Southampton guildhall caters for rock and pop at what it claims is the biggest multi-purpose entertainment venue in the south of England.

Sports fans will be aware of the ultra modern football stadium at St Mary’s and the Sir Michael Hopkins-designed, 35,000 capacity rose Bowl, the home of Hampshire Cricket and venue for neil Diamond and rEM concerts in 2008. A £45 million development programme will see the completion in 2010 of a new four-star, 175-bed hotel on the site; the expansion of the adjacent golf course from nine holes to 18; and big improvements to capacity and facilities that will cement the ground’s status as a premier test match cricket venue.

Southampton’s grade ii listed Central Parks claim more than 17 million park visits in a typical year. They will benefit from the

Southampton claimed 14th place in the 2008 Retail Week Top Towns guide

70% of day-trips to Southampton are for shopping

85% of residents in Hampshire, Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Isle of Wight are estimated to visit Southampton in the course of a year

Over 70% of shoppers visit more than one of the city’s retail areas, including WestQuay, the Marlands Shopping Centre, and the niche, fashion-oriented shops of the Bargate Shopping Centre

IKEA opened a new four-floor store just five minutes from the city centre in February 2009

million was spent by overnight visitors to the city. Overseas visitors account for 15% of all overnight stays - but 31% of the spend.

£97.3

creation of the QE2 Mile which will link the city centre with the waterfront via its public spaces.

Southampton really does have something for everyone, but the majority of day visitors, 70%, are here to shop. WestQuay is currently the star attraction with 90-plus tenants including John Lewis and Marks & Spencer but the newly opened city-centre iKEA is offering shoppers a new destination and the choices are set to grow with the regeneration programme.

With all of this on offer, it is little wonder that Southampton’s visitor economy is going from strength to strength. ●

A city of shoppers

Numbers of City Champions,who provide the lifeblood of theorganisation, continue to grow.With a 25 per cent year-on-yeargrowth, the City Champion totalcurrently stands at more than 100- an outstanding achievement ina recession that demonstratesbusinesses are committed tomaking the Southampton regionthe first choice to live, work andthrive on the south coast.

The role of a City Champion islong-term, they invest in thegrowth, image and development

of the city region, whilst alsogaining direct benefits for theirorganisation.

Sally Lynskey, BusinessSouthampton’s CEO, said: “It’snot about quick fixes, it’s aboutpartnership working, poolingexpertise and knowledge for thegreater good of the region. Being aCity Champion enables businessesto speak with an independent,united voice and to have influenceand political leverage at a local,regional and national level.”

Three years into a thirty-year long-term plan, BusinessSouthampton is showing itself as a valuable asset withinthe business community.

Sally Lynskey CEO,Business Southampton

Foward Mag Advert:Layout 1 25/5/09 17:31 Page 1

http://www.businesssouthampton.com

http://www.solent.ac.uk


community

»

From scrutinising a model of the city that evolves as proposals come forward, to delivering regeneration projects themselves, residents are thoroughly involved in Southampton’s regeneration. Adrienne Margolis reports

Model city

When a city is being transformed on a large scale over a long period, it can prove tough to win the support of local people and

to involve them in the process. interaction is the key and a large-scale model of the city and exhibition of proposed developments showing southampton’s regeneration plans, allowing residents and business people to see for themselves what this will involve, has provided the perfect medium.

although it was created as a tool to inform developers of the opportunities in southampton the model has proved to be of great interest to local residents keen to find out about the plans for their city. Over 80,000 people have visited the exhibition since it opened in June 2008.

the exhibition was devised by city Vision networks, a joint venture between the solent centre for architecture and Design, the University of Portsmouth and Re-Format, a firm of architects and designers.

the exhibition also provided space for those architects and developers involved to showcase their major projects in the city alongside the model, which is the largest in the country outside of the capital’s new London architecture centre.

“the idea was to explain architecture to people through three-dimensional studies. every town needs to get the truth – especially local residents, who need to have their say and get involved,” explains Paul grover, chief executive of the solent centre for architecture and Design.

“it is crucial that people can put themselves on the map in relation to developments. People realise that we have created a resource for them. the idea is to be more inclusive and engage with them using a tool that people can understand. Up until now, they have often felt excluded.”

the exhibition lets people see exactly what is planned. “there is no hiding place for a developer,” he says. “the architecture exhibition is a catalyst for quality, because people do not want second-rate buildings.”

the model offers great potential for public consultations. grover suggests that it is important to remember that consultation is not just about neighbourhood renewal. “it is also about enjoying being in a city.” a programme of talks held at city Vision has proved popular, confirmation, if it were needed, that the public is interested in what the future holds for southampton. “the first talk was on how to create quality cities, then the future of rural and suburban

Every town needs to get the truth - especially local residents, who need to have their say and get involved

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We used to have a whole series of working groups and they were very well attended. now, when we focus on single issues like crime, meetings are still well attended,” says Kellett.

Residents are kept informed through a quarterly magazine and a website. a panel of 233 residents are regularly phoned for their views, and tick-list questionnaires are distributed to garner opinions. “all this is part of our promise that people would not have to come to lots of meetings,” Kellett explains. “We have found that people do not want to be interminably consulted but they want to know what they need to know.”

Working in this way helps people to feel that they have some control over change, Kellett believes. “i think that service providers have got to come to where people are. but it is labour intensive,” he admits. “We were 26 strong at our height, now we are down to fourteen.

“it means that we have got to get smarter with our it and how we communicate. More people want their information over the internet now and are happy to do these things online.

“but there is no substitute for face-to-face meetings and talking to people on the phone. if you are following up an issue, people are happy to talk it through in a five-minute conversation on the phone.”

the way in which thornhill Plus you has involved residents has changed over time. “i’ve chaired tPy for eight years. it is amazing to see how people have grown and developed – and the sheer power of the community is incredible,” says Debbie King, the chairman of tPy, who lives in the thornhill area.

“the ethos has been about involving people. they choose the changes and they also choose how those changes are delivered,” she explains. One example of this is the your health, your community, your Vote event where residents decided where they wanted to see health and wellbeing funds being spent within their community. a series of local groups delivered a short presentation and the 120-strong audience voted on each project. the event was a success in terms of encouraging local groups to think about health related issues and how their work can help the thornhill community and showing local residents

fringe housing,” he says. “the next will be on developers and public art.”

in addition, there is a rotating exhibition of new architecture in southampton. “We also plan to showcase hampshire architects annually, and invite different artists to engage with the city every year,” grover adds.

there is some concern that both the model and the associated projects were launched as the economic downturn bites. “it is great that the city has invested in the model but it has not come at the best time,” says local architect Julian boswell, a partner in sherlock boswell. he adds: “if the model and exhibition are to be used as a tool to drive the city forward, they need to be interactive. For example, planning applications need to be able to engage with the model.” Looking to the long term, grover says: “southampton has realised that this is a resource, but we now need business support to keep it going.”

Going localin addition to projects like city Vision, there has also been plenty of activity at neighbourhood level. One example is at thornhill, where local residents have become increasingly involved in managing regeneration of the area themselves. in 1999, thornhill Plus you (tPy) was set up under the new Deal for communities, a government project aimed at getting residents involved in decision-making about the changes that are made to their neighbourhoods. and it has done just that, tPy’s main achievement is the level of resident’s participation and ownership of issues.

“When we started out, we set up a resident-led board. it has 22 places on it and the chair is a resident. all decision making involves a percentage of resident representatives – it is skewed towards them. Financial decisions are made by residents for residents,” explains Dave Kellett, partnership director at tPy.

around 700 residents attended the inaugural meeting, and the organisation has gone from strength to strength. improvements to housing, amenities and to people’s well-being have all been delivered.

“two years ago, the bulk of the decisions had been made, so there is less activity now.

this page:The large-scale model at City Vision Southampton is the largest outside of London and has proved very popular.

The ethos has been about involving people. They choose the changes and they choose how the changes are delivered❝

❞

community


they have the power to decide where and how funding is allocated.

King continues: “the difference between this regeneration programme and previous ones is that it has put the power in people’s hands. We have been able to get rid of the tick-box mentality,” King says. “For example, when we help people to find jobs, we also teach them skills – like how to write a cV, or interview techniques. it means we can concentrate on quality, not just on getting them a job.

“For us, this is what regeneration is about. it is not just about money and resources – really it is about changing hearts and minds, and changing the way

that things are delivered.” King has been involved with tPy from

its outset. her own experience reflects the successes of the project. “i volunteered initially because i wanted an outlet while my children were at school. but i now have a skill set that enables me to go out to work.

“i manage the Working Links project, which helps get people back into work. Quite a few residents deliver projects.” ● www.thornhillplusyou.co.uk

Thedifferencebetween this programme and previous ones is that this one has put the power in people’s hands

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❞

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partnerships

All together now

“Partnership working is the way we do business in this city,” says Henry Pavey, strategic partnerships manager at Southampton City Council. From the approach to a high level of inward investment to the initiatives designed to make Southampton a better place to live, the south coast city’s transformation is defined by a myriad of alliances. Julie Mackintosh highlights some of the projects here

Southampton partnershipWhat: Leading the way for collaborations in the city is the Southampton Partnership, established in 2002. With representatives from the public, private and voluntary sectors, it brings together initiatives covering issues from culture and adult learning to the economy, branding and community safety. Under this family of partnerships, Southampton’s joined-up approach to regeneration as a social, environmental and cultural, as well as a physical and economic, transformation has a focus.Why: Southampton Partnership’s broad role is to implement the City of Southampton Strategy and the 2026 Vision:

“As the major city in central southern England, Southampton will be recognised as the region’s economic, social and cultural driver, building on its role as an international seaport, centre for cutting-edge research and leading retail centre. It will be a centre of learning, have a varied and exciting cultural landscape and be known for its innovative and creative businesses, leisure opportunities, fine parks and open spaces.

“Adapting into a sustainable waterfront city, Southampton will have a worldwide profile, attracting visitors, new citizens and businesses by being the UK’s premier cruise liner home port, a major European container port and the local city for one of the UK’s top airports. Southampton will be known as a city that is good to grow up in and good to grow old in, where people are proud to live and economic success is harnessed to social justice.”Story So far: The Southampton Partnership is no talking shop – it developed and intends to implement the City of Southampton Strategy and the 2026 Vision. The attitude, commitment and readiness of companies and organisations to get involved shows just how influential the Southampton Partnership has become in the city. “How could we achieve our goal of improving Southampton for the good of all residents without working in partnership?” asks Henry Pavey, strategic partnerships manager at the council. “I think all our key partners, whether from the private sector, public sector or our voluntary and community sector recognise this and want to be part of it.”

»


There is plenty of help for start-ups from agencies and organisations tailored to meet the demands of the knowledge economy

regeneration & development

What: For the past few years, the Developers Forum, made up of the team at the council and developers leading the major projects, have been meeting to address the wider issues involved in the city’s £1.7 billion regeneration. Why: Tim Levenson, head of city development and economy at the council, identifies four main functions of the forum: to look at the issues and problems faced by developers; to discuss council policy on matters such as design; to update developers on planning policy and to become a focus for proactive initiatives aiding the wider regeneration of Southampton. Story So far: The Developers Forum meets three or four times a year and one of its successes has been in engaging developers in improving skills. By responding to the problems faced by developers, the forum aims to speed up the regeneration and transformation of Southampton.

Skills and employability

What: Southampton’s skills profile broadly mirrors that of the UK as a whole. However, various collaborations and initiatives are being employed to improve skills in the city. These include: work by Southampton Council’s adult learning and skills team with partners such as Job Centre Plus; work with developers around section 106 agreements; Southampton Information Training and Employment Services (SITES); the Skills and Employability Board, which is chaired by professor Van Gore, vice-chancellor of Southampton Solent University; and smaller initiatives like the adopt-a-school programme run by Solent Education Business Parnership. Meanwhile, the Graduate Jobs South initiative, funded by the two universities and the University of Winchester, aims to keep many of the 6,000 graduates the city produces each year in Southampton.Why: The short answer is to allow the city’s population to take advantage of the opportunities presented by regeneration. The advantages of keeping young, educated people within the local economy are obvious.Story So far: “Analysis from a variety of sources tells us there is a skills gap in the retail, public services and marine sectors,” says Gore. “Our approach to tackling this is very much employer focused, asking what they need and finding ways to combine their goals while addressing wider social issues, particularly economic inactivity. There has been a real enthusiasm for the idea across the city and – although co-ordination of this scale is never easy – progress is already being made”.

SITES – Southampton Information, Training and Employment services – brings together partners including Sure Start, Job Centre Plus, the council’s adult learning and skills team, Wheatsheaf Trust, the local education partnership, further education colleges and employers. Its remit covers everything from addressing childcare and debt problems, providing pre-employment training and opportunities to gain qualifications to helping candidates with CVs and interview preparation.

The council is working with property developers, through section 106 agreements, to organise training and employment plans for all new developments in the city. Graduate Jobs South is also making great strides and has placed hundreds of young job hunters since its launch in April 2007.

Economic growth

What: Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) is made up of 11 local authorities in South Hampshire, including the cities of Southampton, Portsmouth and the county of Hampshire. Why: The collaboration aims to help the sub-region realise its potential and raise its economic performance. Working with a wider family of partners, including SEEDA, PUSH is helping potential investors with enquiries in the region.Story So far: Set up in 2003-4 the partnership has a clear vision to make South Hampshire a place where conditions are right for business, productivity, innovation and growth. By 2026 it aims to achieve an annual economic growth rate of 3.5% while generating 59,000 net additional jobs and two million extra square metres of commercial floor space.In November PUSH is launching a joint commercial property register providing a comprehensive service for companies looking to relocate.

partnerships


Business

What: Southampton has a lively commercial community as demonstrated by organisations such as Business Southampton, the Southampton Business Support Network, Southampton and Fareham Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Business Link. Inward investment, business creation and expansion are supported by the council’s economic development team which, under its guise as Invest in Southampton, works with a range of agencies, developers and decision-makers. There is plenty of help for start-ups from agencies such as Enterprise First and organisations tailored to meet the specific demands of the knowledge economy. As well as other organisations that support self-employment; their work includes helping people with disabilities set up their own business and those who have been unsuccessful in securing loans from banks. Why: Southampton needs a strong and diverse economy to ensure its long-term prosperity. Companies coming into the city region need to know they will be supported and those looking to start or expand a business will be more likely to do so if the regulatory, advice and planning environment understands their requirements. Story So far: Southampton is looking to create more businesses and encourage those already operating in the region. One example is Business Southampton, an independent organisation that aims to provide a cohesive voice for the commercial community, influence public policy, support the skills debate and promote the city region nationally and internationally. Its chief executive Sally Lynskey says: “We’re just two years into a 30-year programme but already we’ve attracted over 100 city champions covering a full range of Southampton businesses and, with them, we’re committed to championing the regeneration of Southampton and the city region, supporting the skills agenda and promoting its attractions outside the region.” Highlighting another example of how collaboration is helping to achieve these goals, Robin McDonald, an economic development officer at the council, explains that Southampton Business Support Network was set up around four years ago to bring all agencies and interested parties together on a periodic basis to raise issues, concerns and share knowledge. Expert guest speakers deliver talks on issues such as tax, and business people have the opportunity to network.

Culture

What: The much anticipated Cultural Quarter will form an integral part of Southampton’s regeneration. Liaison between the council, developers and the arts and voluntary sectors has been ongoing and fruitful while Southampton Heritage and Arts People (SHAPE), which gathers together the city’s cultural expertise, has been formed under the auspices of the Southampton Partnership.Why: The importance and value of culture is recognised as a given in regeneration circles. Culture, if defined to include restaurants, shopping and leisure experiences plus the arts, is a chief attraction for individuals and companies when they are deciding whether to settle or stay in a region. Story So far: Southampton’s new arts complex is a collaborative venture funded by Southampton City Council, who’re working with Arts Council England to secure a £5.7 million grant for the project, SEEDA via the Southampton Partnership and the University of Southampton. The complex will bring together Art Asia, the John Hansard Gallery and Nuffield Theatre 2 offering visual, performing, video and film and Asian arts on a site fronting onto Guildhall Square. The square is now undergoing a major refurbishment with new paving and bespoke seating to form the perfect venue for performing arts shows and events.The council’s ambitious plans to create a new Cultural Quarter also include Sea City Museum, which is expected to be one of the best attractions in the south of England and has benefited from funding for the development stages of the project from Southampton City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund it also includes the Regional Business Centre, a six-storey office building. The new quarter will build upon the city’s existing cultural activity creating a dynamic, mixed-use quarterStephen Foster, SHAPE chair and director of the John Hansard Gallery, says: “This project will give us the world-class facilities that we deserve. It will also make sure that all our facilities are not only available but used extensively by more and more people from the city and the region. Working in partnership with other organisations will bring ever wider audiences to us and will create the sort of buzz at the heart of the city that Southampton has been waiting for.” ●


contact For more on the renaissance of Southampton contact Dawn Baxendale, assistant chief executive on 023 8083 2587 [email protected]

Joint property register covering South Hampshire*

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If you would like to promote your commercial property with us or require further information contact:

Tracey Tizard, Economic Development, Southampton City Council023 8083 2918, [email protected]

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*The property register covers:Southampton, Portsmouth, New Forest, Test Valley, Winchester, Eastleigh, Gosport, Havant and Fareham

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