New 'city centre vision' for Southampton unveiled
Bosses say it provides a sustainable future and supports growth
A new long-term vision for the future of Southampton city centre has been unveiled.
The Southampton Renaissance Vision was launched to development, investment and property sector representatives at a special event on Friday (February 14th).
Council leader Cllr Lorna Fielker said:
“We really believe that the opportunities Southampton has to offer outweigh the challenges that we may face as a city.
“We’ve got the right ingredients for a sustainable future and the Southampton Renaissance Vision sets out our ambitions.”
The plan has been compiled by the advisory renaissance board, which brings together the likes of the city council, universities, Southampton Football Club, Go! Southampton Business Improvement District, Associated British Ports and Red Funnel.
“Our aims are to support inclusive growth and regeneration, create healthy and liveable neighbourhoods, establishing Southampton as the destination on the south coast for culture, innovation, enterprise and sport,” Cllr Fielker added.
The plans are set around six delivery themes to “unlock” future regeneration and investment. They are:
Waterfront – Maximise Southampton’s reputation as a world-class waterfront city
Destination – Create a network of destinations across the city
Innovation – Create the conditions for innovation
Neighbourhoods – Support existing and developing new neighbourhoods
Green – Deliver improvements to make Southampton a more green and sustainable city
Connected – Improve connectivity into and out of the city centre
Through a master planning approach, the vision divides the city centre into five renaissance areas of Mayflower Waterfront, Ocean Village, Itchen Riverside, Heart of the City and West Bay.
Nawaz Khan, council director of economic development and regeneration, said the vision represented a long-term aspiration for the city over the next 15 to 20 years.
Cllr Fielker said: “We know that these are bold and ambitious plans that we’re looking to get investment for.
“This isn’t going to happen overnight, but what will happen is projects will come forward over time and they will be connected to each other because people can see those clear themes that were wanting to achieve in Southampton rather than sort of piecemeal regeneration development that’s happened in our city over time.”
Cabinet member for economic development Cllr Sarah Bogle said the plans will increase the density of the city centre, creating job opportunities as well as new homes.
“I think we have a big opportunity to really transform the city and act as a real sort of powerhouse for the region,” Cllr Bogle said. “We are the biggest city and we are projected to grow by quite a significant amount and we need to do that in a planned way, a joined up way and a sustainable way.”