Woolston Riverside Overcomes Record Objections

Despite a record number of objections to the outline planning application, 1,639 in total, Southampton's local council last night approved plans for the Woolston Riverside site, now known with the more marketable name of Centenary Quay.

The scheme is being developed jointly by Crest Nicholson and development agency SEEDA with architects working on the scheme including Patel, Taylor, Jestico & Whites and TS Design.

Plans for the transformation of the brownfield site were originally drawn up by the Richard Rogers Partnership and although the architect is no longer involved, broad strokes of Roger's vision remain.

The scheme will feature three new waterside towers and 1,653 residential units. 412 of these will be affordable, which is almost three hundred more than the local press has been wrongly reporting. Other amenities on offer will be a new three star hotel, shopping and a multi-storey car park.

Amongst the complaints that were made by opponents of the planning application was the lack of parking of less than one space per home and paradoxically that what would be built would lead to an increase in traffic levels allowing objectors to paint the developers as damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Also included in the Masterplan is what is dubbed a "marine quarter." Aimed above all at light industry and creative firms, this will be an attempt space for the production of boats and act as a catalyst for improving employment opportunities.

This isn't the only good news for developments in Southampton.as phase one of Eastpark Terrace commences construction.