Southampton: Fruit Market site development is set for October occupiers

A multi-million-pound regeneration project in Southampton is well on track to create hundreds of new homes by the end of next summer. National Regional Property Group – formerly known as Hampshire & Regional Property Group – reports that work is ramping up at the city’s former fruit and vegetable market.

The £60m scheme, off Queensway, will create 84 one and 195 two-bedroom apartments, as well as close to 900 square metres of flexible commercial space. Set to welcome its first residents in October, the development will feature on-site gym and residents’ lounge, with its own kitchen and dining area, big screen TV and free Wi-Fi. All apartments will be pet-friendly and the building will have dedicated on-site community services and concierge staff and maintenance teams.

The development will be the first PRS ‘private rented sector’ development in the city, with all apartments owned by one company for a more joined-up approach to managing the building. The homes will all be for rent, rather than for buying, with long-term tenancy agreements on offer and prices starting from £750 pcm for a one-bedroom apartment.

Several milestones have been achieved in recent months, including the naming of the new development. The new community, close to Southampton’s historic city walls, will be called ‘Bow Square’, with the ‘Bow’ standing for ‘Back of the Walls’.

The first show home at the development has also opened its doors. Prospective tenants can now make an appointment to visit the show home and see what life might be like if they rented an apartment in the building.

Those passing by will have noticed construction, being undertaken by PMC Construction, is moving ahead at pace. Phase one is almost complete, with the scaffolding removed from the first part of the L-shaped block and landscaping taking shape.

Roof construction is complete on phase two and fitters are starting to install kitchens, working from the ground floor and moving up.

Allan Gordon, managing director of National Regional Property Group, said: “We’ve had some really positive feedback from passers-by, who are excited to see this once run-down part of the city come back to life. Bow Square is really taking shape and it won’t be long until it’s ready for its first residents to move in.”