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New Developments

The coastline of the Solent is constantly evolving as sites are developed, redeveloped or undergo change of use to respond to the current economic, social and political climate.  This page summarises current developments that are taking place or are in progress.

Eneco Wind Farm

Exclusive development rights for an offshore wind project west of the Isle of Wight have been awarded to Eneco, a Dutch energy company.  The Crown Estate, owner of the seabed and a partner in the project, awarded the area known as Zone 7 to Eneco with the involvement of key stakeholders and a Strategic Environmental Assessment by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).  The announcement follows a tendering process launched by The Crown Estate in 2008 to allow for 32GW-worth of offshore wind in UK waters by 2020.

The wind project will be referred to as the Eneco Wind Park in its early stages. Eneco believes that around 30 per cent of the 723 sq km zone could be developed, providing approximately 900MW of capacity. The Eneco project is expected to be operational by 2016. The final design and ultimate capacity will be determined after comprehensive engagement with all parties involved including the general public, local authorities, community and environmental groups.

Yarmouth Harbour Development

Following considerable consultation over the past two years and many compromises, Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners have agreed the plans for the development of the inner harbour between the harbour entrance and the Yar Bridge.

The reasons for the changes are:

The Commissioners intend to undertake this development in stages, with phase one being implemented during the winter 2010/11, and the other phases in later years as funds become available. Applications have been made for planning permission with the Isle of Wight Council, and to the relevant government agencies for other necessary licences.

Solent Waterfront Strategy

The Solent Waterfront Strategy has been led by SEEDA in partnership with Marine South East and the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH).  The Strategy was initiated following a call from industry leaders and Hampshire Economic Partnership who expressed concerns about the shortage of coastal waterfront land space available for businesses in the Solent to grow and thrive. This is the first ever in-depth research into the Solent marine sector and it has revealed that is contributes significant economic benefits to the local area. The sector provides 25,000 direct jobs and makes up around 25% of the Solent economy.

Centenary Quay

Crest Nicholas and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) have joined together to conceive a new £500m mixed use scheme for Woolston which will include around 1,600 new homes, a 100,000 sq ft boatyard, a 45,000 sq ft food store as well as office space, a hotel and various community facilities. The development named “Centenary Quay” sits on the former Vosper Thornycroft site and has been in the pipeline for a number of years now. Funding has been secured from The Homes and Communities Agency, through the National Affordable Housing Program and Low Carbon Infrastructure Fund to help with the provision of 400 affordable homes as well as an energy and heat centre to help power the scheme. In late March 2010 preliminary investigation work finally started and it is expected that by the end of April work on the first phase of the development will have begun. This development is long over due and many consider its start will be the catalyst for an upturn in Woolston. Once fully completed the development is expected to house up to 3000 people and create a further 1000 jobs in the area. This additional population will only help footfall and increase local trade.

Hythe Marine Park, Southampton

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) has acquired the former RAF Hythe site from the Ministry of Defence, at Shore Road, Hythe. The Agency has converted the site and buildings into one of the Solent’s newest and most unique Marine Business Parks.  The site which was occupied, until September 2006, by the US Army for the servicing and repair of military vehicles and vessels from across Europe, is one of the few remaining available waterside employment sites in the Solent area.

Cowes Outer Harbour Project

The Cowes Outer Harbour Project (OHP) seeks to support the regeneration of East Cowes and also to make Cowes a true harbour, providing additional protection and increasing the usability and long-term potential of the Outer Harbour area.  The Project is the result of years of intensive partnership work between the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and Cowes Harbour Commission.

The OHP has three main components:

Daedalus

Land at Daedalus, a former MoD site based at Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, has been acquired by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to provide sustainable, high quality mixed-use development.  SEEDA has a vision for Daedalus, however no decisions have yet been made about the future of the site. The first stage is for SEEDA to consult with local residents, stakeholders and all interested parties to consider the vision in more detail and identify how the site can best be developed.  Once the vision is agreed, the next stage is for this to be developed into a masterplan for the site.

Portsmouth Naval Base

The new aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales will both be based in Portsmouth and at 280 metres in length, will take up three jetties when alongside in the Naval Base.  They are due to enter service from 2015.  The ships are the biggest and most powerful warships ever designed and built in the UK. They will be 70 metres wide and the flight deck area is equivalent to 49 tennis courts or three football pitches – large enough to take up to 40 aircraft.  Preliminary work is already underway in the Naval Base to accommodate the vessels. Assessments to define the exact work required have been completed and an impact study is underway to identify any measures required to safeguard the environment.  Three jetties on the western edge of the Base will have to be upgraded and extra shore services will be needed, including an increase in electrical supply.  And approach channels to the Base will have to be dredged to a depth of 10.5 metres – current depth is 9.5 metres - to cope with the ships which will have a full displacement of 65,000 tonnes.   

Royal Pier

Southampton City Council has begun the process of searching for a developer to transform the city’s Royal Pier area into a world class waterfront. The council’s Cabinet has approved the first steps towards redeveloping one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. This first big step is for the three main landowners, Southampton City Council, Associated British Ports and the Crown Estate to create a landowners agreement, which forms the basis for the parties working together to achieve the redevelopment. Then the landowners will invite developers to put forward their ideas as to how the redevelopment might look. These ideas must include improving Mayflower Park to make the waterfront more accessible to the public and ensure that it is a high quality public place that residents and visitors can enjoy.

Woolston Riverside

Southampton's new waterfront will create a rich mix of places with a new civic square, public gardens and a riverside walk. The £500 million worth of development at Woolston Riverside will also create more than 1,400 new jobs in Southampton.  Crest Nicholson Regeneration have received part outline and part full planning permission for Centenary Quay. The plans include more than 1,600 homes, a hotel, offices, supermarket, library, health centre and three waterfront apartment towers. A public plaza will be the centre point of the development which will feature shops, cafes and restaurants.

The South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA) has also secured investment from US super yacht company Palmer Johnson who will occupy the Marine Quarter at Woolston Riverside. Palmer Johnson, who are looking to open their new base in 2009 will bring millions of pounds worth of investment into the city. The company will manufacture yachts up to 100 metres long - the largest leisure crafts of their kind to be built in the country.

Deepening of Southampton Main Navigation Channel

This project, which is referred to as the Southampton Approach Channel Dredge (SACD), involves selective deepening and widening of the navigation channel at various locations through Southampton Water and the Solent and comprises two components: the deepening and widening of the main navigational approach channel to the Port of Southampton and the disposal of the estimated 11.6 million m³ of dredged material at the Nab Disposal Ground to the east of the Isle of Wight (unless a beneficial use can be identified).

Deepening of 201 and 202 Berths

This proposal is to strengthen and deepen part of the existing quay in the Western Docks in Southampton fronting the container terminal to enable the Port to accommodate the current generation of large container vessels at their loaded draught. This proposal will involve:

Subject to approvals it is proposed to undertake the works between July 2010 and September 2011.

Portsmouth-Ryde Investment

Wightlink is in the process of a major investment programme to improve the service offered on its Portsmouth - Ryde route. £9 million has been allocated to upgrade both the fleet and the terminals at Ryde and Portsmouth Harbour.

Portsmouth Commercial Port

Portsmouth Commercial Port hosted a 'turning the sod' ceremony for its new ferry terminal building at the beginning of Feb 2010. With digging currently taking place at the new terminal site, the next stage will involve driving pre-cast concrete pile foundations into the ground. With this work commencing in mid February and taking two weeks to complete, it will be followed by foundation piers being capped and the in-situ ground beams being installed over a period of five weeks.

The 2700m² new terminal building will be situated 150 metres to the east of the existing terminal building, where Port terminal warehouses used to reside. While the footprint of the actual building will be roughly the same as the existing structure, it gains a further 75 per cent of floor space, including a larger canopy.

Southsea Regeneration

Seafront restaurants and a pavilion could be developed as part of a proposed £1.2m regeneration of Southsea. People were invited to shape the future of the resort during a consultation in April 2009.  This is a development initiative between Portsmouth City Council and the university. Details of the proposed works are to be presented for funding approval in September at Portsmouth City Council with a completion date for works earmarked by March 2011.

Port of Southampton Master Plan

In early 2010, ABP published its Port of Southampton Master Plan.  This is a government led initiative which sets out how ABP sees the future of the port developing until 2030. It identifies additional infrastructure requirements for both the Eastern and Western Docks.