Crest reveals first images of £500m Southampton scheme

The first image of the £500m Woolston Riverside regeneration has been unveiled. Crest Nicholson will bring forward the residential element of the Richard Rogers-designed masterplan, which comprises three towers of up to 23-storeys comprising 1500 homes. The developer beat Barratt Homes, Berkeley Homes, George Wimpey and Taylor Woodrow to be chosen by the South East England Development Agency to bring forward the £350m phase. Last year the developer reworked Architect Lord Rogers’ masterplan for the Southampton site more commercially viable, scrapping plans to build the towers on specially constructed “fingers” of land jutting into the river Itchen. Dean & Dyball has been appointed to develop the commercial element – a 9.92-acre marine quarter – which will include a working quay for repair and refit of vessels, a main commercial quayside, a new pier alongside large-scale marine production facilities, offices, workshops and studios, and a Marine Trade Centre. Construction on the 36-acre scheme, which also includes shops, a health centre, library and public square, is expected to begin in 2009.