Start date announced for huge redevelopment in Southampton
The Leisure World site is going to be transformed
A start date has been announced for a huge redevelopment of part of Southampton.
The Leisure World site, opposite IKEA, is going to be transformed with a new cinema, casino, two hotels and 650 homes.
The city council has approved commercial terms for the project which is due to get underway in early 2023.
The authority said the Leisure World scheme would feature:
• £250m investment in Southampton city centre
• Cinema, casino, leisure and wellbeing facilities
• 650 new homes
• Two 150-room hotels
• 80 serviced hotel apartments
• Modern workspace
• 1000+ jobs
• Improved linkages within the city centre
The scheme will be built across different phases, beginning in early 2023 with the first phase expected to be occupied during 2024-25
Councillor Jeremy Moulton, deputy leader of Southampton City Council, said: "Leisure World is a key development site within Southampton and is particularly important to support recovery from the pandemic as we grow the local economy and get Southampton moving.
"Through this inward investment, the Leisure World development not only creates a large number of jobs during the six to eight years of construction, it also creates many new permanent jobs once the scheme is completed.
John Marsh, director at developer Sovereign Centros, said: "This agreement with Southampton City Council is an important part of the process that will unlock substantial investment in the city.
"It will ensure the rejuvenation of this strategic site, which represents one of the most significant redevelopments Southampton has seen in a long time."