Changing face of Ocean Village

The changing face of the Ocean Village waterfront in Southampton presents a new dimension to No 1 Channel Way, home of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, on the right of my picture.

The new Admirals Quay development and the 26-storey Moresby Tower has become the tallest residential building in the city and dominates the waterfront skyline. With the adjoining 14-storey Hawkins Tower and nine storey Blake Building, the new Admirals Quay development provides an additional 299 apartments in the Ocean Village complex, providing stunning views over both the marina and the city. New restaurants and shops are planned as part of the additions to the village.

A new five-star hotel is planned for another part of the marina.

But it’s been a long saga after the demolition of the original cargo shed, converted to tourist shops and restaurants which initially made up the commercial part of Ocean Village.

Seven years ago as the financial crisis took hold, work stopped on this part of the marina water frontage development. This left much of the marina village fronting the water derelict and hidden behind hoardings. The then developer fell victim of the economic woes and a large part of the village became an eyesore.

The new buildings dwarf the Yacht Club, but at water level the four-storey clubhouse, in part built over the water, still holds the prominent focal position in the marina with pride, and in itself is monument to the Club’s 130-year plus ancestry and the city’s maritime heritage.