Southampton's Arts Complex Approved by Planning Committee
29 September 2011
A stunning new arts complex, which will rejuvenate arts and culture in the city was given the green light by Southampton City Council’s planning panel on 27 September 2011.
The 100,000 sq ft arts complex and new restaurant and retail space will create more than 300 direct jobs with work aiming to start on site next summer.
Grosvenor signed a formal agreement with Southampton City Council in 2010 and has been working in partnership with them to develop a detailed proposal for the scheme, which will be arranged around the newly landscaped Guildhall Square.
Councillor Royston Smith, Leader of Southampton City Council said:
“Planning approval marks a significant step in this important build for the city.
“Another key development in the Cultural Quarter is now coming to fruition and I know residents are as excited as I am that the development of the arts complex will shortly commence onsite.
“It will be a place in the Cultural Quarter where all the arts can thrive and will draw in hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Despite the current financial climate, we continue to attract investment and create vital new jobs for our residents.”
Alex Robinson, development manager, Grosvenor, commented:
“Grosvenor has worked closely with Southampton City Council over the past few months to ensure that we submitted a proposal that combined outstanding design and exceptional leisure facilities.
“We are very pleased that this scheme has been approved at committee and are excited to be moving forward with our lettings campaign.”
Sally Abbott, Regional Director, Arts Council England, said: “We have a commitment to focusing resources in Southampton. To hear that planning permission has gone through for the new arts complex is great news. We believe the new arts complex will be at the heart of the city’s emerging cultural quarter and will be a fantastic addition to the cultural offer already available in Southampton.”
The arts complex fit out will be undertaken directly after this and finished ready to be launched in 2015.
Grosvenor has worked with architects CZWG to ensure that the scheme becomes established as the city’s flagship Cultural Quarter development.
Plans include 6 restaurant units, 29 flats in addition to the new arts complex which comprises auditoria, studio and creation space for the performing arts, a contemporary art gallery (John Hansard, University of Southampton) and film/media facilities (City Eye).
The design also incorporates a striking glazed façade, a pedestrianised link to historic East Park, and soaring stepped upper floors. Southampton City Council was last year granted £7.2m from Arts Council England for the arts complex scheme.
Image shows:CAD of Grosvenor's proposed Art's and Leisure Complex
Image copyright:CZWG
For further information:
Contact: Isabel Hokken, Media Officer, Southampton City Council:
Tel: 023 8083 2000
Email:isabel.hokken@southampton.gov.uk
Contact: Sorrel Comley, Media Relations Assistant, Grosvenor:
Tel: 020 7312 6101
Email:sorrel.comley@grosvenor.com
www.southampton.gov.uk/culturalquarter
