news opinion
Pinch me I’m dreaming … Has this past month been for real?
Start with mobile gaming’s latest great step – overlaying the ‘real’ world with a virtual one. Pokemon Go is the hottest craze to hit Britain for some years, and fanatical players, adults included, are wandering into dangerous territories to hunt virtual creatures. ‘There’s a Jigglypuff here, give me two minutes,’ says a youngster being warned off a hazardous waste site.
But never mind the over-zealous teen, post Brexit many of our politicians have made statements and decisions that take even this absurdity to another level. In a spectacular display of bad political sportsmanship, we’ve seen the rulebook of political campaigning ripped to shreds.
The weeks after Brexit have been both farcical and surreal, but while the dust settles and Britain unstitches itself from the continent, resilient Solent and South Coast businesses are shrugging off Brexit concerns in their determination to invest and grow. This issue is packed with success stories from the region – take the Deals Update, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Business Focus pages just for starters.
Online retail is also breaking an age- old norm and, following Amazon’s collaboration on drone testing with government, we can soon expect to look to the skies for our deliveries.
Going higher still there’s the extraordinary issue of space, which looks about to go private and where property rights are high on the global agenda. In 2015, more money was invested in space start-ups than over the previous 15 years combined, and already one company has been granted mining rights on the moon.
Meanwhile back on this planet and to our very own space race – we have 19 pages dedicated to property in the region, and celebrating the winners of our inaugural South Coast Property Awards which was attended by some 500 industry leaders.
We also reveal the latest Manufacturing 100 listing, see pages 26-29, which celebrate success in the sector and provide interesting insight into the wealth of manufacturing and engineering companies in the region. These companies too are breaking through the limits in their own, admittedly more-accessible ways.
Carry de la Harpe Editor
4
businessmag.co.uk
Hampshire & Regional Property Group’s flagship scheme under way
Hampshire & Regional Property Group has a £60 million regeneration scheme, The Fruit and Vegetable Market, underway at Southampton with the phase-one steel- frame structure starting to rise into the skyline. The scheme is on-track to be completed by this time next year.
Off Queensway in the city centre and split across three blocks, the scheme will provide 84 one-bedroom and 195 two- bedroom apartments as well as almost 900 sq m of commercial space.
Highways work is taking place to create more on-street parking, and the construction of an underground car park in the second of the three buildings is in hand.
Allan Gordon, managing director of Hampshire & Regional Property Group, said: “On any given day there are at least 70 contractors working to bring this important project to fruition. This is a flagship scheme which will completely transform the area, bringing with it much needed homes and jobs.”
Councillor Simon Letts, leader of Southampton City Council, said: “This development is one of seven ‘very
important projects’ that are underway in the city centre, the masterplan for which was implemented in 2012. An envisaged £3 billion of investment is coming to the city, and this huge level of financial commitment has made Southampton the destination city on the South Coast.”
PMC Construction is the principal contractor appointed by Hampshire & Regional Property Group to build the scheme. Around 30 jobs could be created through the commercial space and an estimated 300 jobs created during the construction period. The scheme marks Southampton’s first-ever Private Rented Sector (PRS) development.
£100m plans lodged for Bargate Shopping Centre
Bargate Shopping Centre in Southampton is to be given a new lease of life after its new owners submitted plans to redevelop the dilapidated site.
The 1980s shopping centre closed its doors in 2013 after its previous owners went into liquidation and it was placed into receivership.
Property investment firm Tellon Capital then acquired the loan for the centre in July 2015 on behalf of Bargate.
The plans, submitted to Southampton City Council, will see nearly £100 million invested in the scheme, creating 280 jobs. The centre will be demolished and the site will be turned into a new leisure quarter with boutique shops, cafes and restaurants.
The proposals, designed by architects Corstorphine & Wright, also include plans for apartments and student accommodation, creating a new neighbourhood in the heart of the city.
The proposals have evolved in response to the site’s position next to the historic town walls. The walls have been hidden for 30 years and the scheme will create walkways, kiosks and outdoor seating along their length.
A decision on the application will be made by Southampton City Council in the autumn.
Credit: CoStar THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH COAST – SEPTEMBER 2016
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