Bargate Quarter scheme approved after retail and hotel space scaled back in wake of pandemic

A redevelopment of a Southampton shopping centre has been given the green light after the developer reworked the project to include more homes in the wake of covid-19.

Tellon Capital received unanimous approval for its Bargate Quarter scheme from Southampton council earlier this week.

The updated scheme includes around 519 homes, up from 287 in the previous proposition, and around 2,500 sq m of retail, down from nearly 7,500 sq m.

The plans supersede previous proposals for the site, where the former Bargate Shopping Centre used to stand.

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Designed by Corstorphine & Wright, the redevelopment will now be residential-led with fewer retail units, while plans for a hotel have been withdrawn.

The news comes amid growing interest in the future of high streets and town centres in the wake of the covid crisis, given the acceleration of online retail and home-working. Earlier this week retail landlord Hammerson announced plans to convert a Leicester department store previously occupied by collapsed retailer Debenhams into 300 homes.

The Bargate Quarter scheme also includes a new park and other environmental improvements including tree planting and reduced carbon emissions.

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Construction is set to start this autumn, subject to finalising the Section 106 and pre-commencement planning conditions.

Stace is providing project management and is also the employer’s agent, overseeing the design and construction stages.

Others working on the scheme include MEP engineer Hoare Lea, structural engineer ICIS Design and landscape architect Macgregor Smith.

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