Homes England has chosen a development partner for a regeneration project on a 42-acre former naval base at Daedalus in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire.
Daedalus Development Company is a joint venture between MurrayTwohig Development – formerly Wordsearch Place – Orwell Real Estate and Patron Capital.
The site is the last of Homes England’s in Daedalus to come forward for development. Once known as HMS Daedalus, it was established as a seaplane base during the First World War, and during the Second World War was an embarkation centre for D-Day. It then continued as a Royal Navy Air Station and today is home to the Hovercraft Museum, which boasts the largest collection of hovercraft in the world.
An Acme Architects-designed scheme is now set to restore some of the historic buildings, including the development of a new home for the museum. The project will also include some 450,000 sq ft of new work and industrial space, and some 350 affordable homes.
David Twohig, co-founder of MurrayTwohig Development and chief executive of Daedalus Development Company, described the project as “an extraordinary opportunity to bring all of the energy and buzz back to Daedalus” and create “a vibrant and productive asset for the peninsula and wider region”.
Homes England’s Jeremy Herring said: “Daedalus Waterfront benefits from being part of the Solent Enterprise Zone, with rich history, heritage buildings and wonderful location opposite the Solent. Daedalus Development Company’s exciting vision for the comprehensive regeneration of the site will create a great place to work, live and visit for the local community.”
Wordsearch Place scooped the EG Tech Award for placemaking in 2019. To be in with a chance of winning an award this year you have a few days left to enter here.
To send feedback, e-mail tim.burke@eg.co.uk or tweet @_tim_burke or @EGPropertyNews
