Southampton: New city centre park and bus hub works to begin

The car park in Castle Way will be replaced by the first new green space in the city centre for 60 years, while parking at Albion Place will become the new bus hub.

Construction work is set to start in the second week of January and is set to finish in autumn 2024.

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While the plans were unanimously approved by the city council's planning committee in September, and were labelled by one councillor as 'a massive environmental improvement' to the city, others have criticised the reduction in city centre parking.

Councillor Eamonn Keogh, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport commented: "This scheme is pivotal for the future of Southampton to maintain its appeal to local people and visitors.

“We want to create a better-connected transport network and to offer people more travel options, whether that is driving, taking the bus, cycling, scooting, or walking.

“We need to support a better bus provision for both residents and visitors, as well as a choice of transport options, so that journeys will become easier for all road users.”

Funded by the Department for Transport, the bus hub will include new waiting facilities, public seating, travel information, access to e-mobility.

To improve passenger safety, there will be better lighting and CCTV.

Advocates of the scheme say the park will improve access to the historic city walls, creating tree-lined lawns and gardens with an art-scape motif that can be viewed from Arundel Tower.

The city walls, which surround the bus hub and park, will also be repaired as part of the city council's heritage investment programme, where many iconic monuments are being restored over the coming years. 

Balfour Beatty, the company which is making the plans a reality, will work with the council's archaeological team to make sure the medieval walls are not affected.

Any significant artefacts will be carefully collected and archived, the council said. 

This month, work will focus on getting the land ready for construction.

There will be no works on the roads in January.

Cllr Keogh added: “I would like to thank residents for their patience whilst the works are taking place, we are working with Balfour Beatty Living Places to ensure there is minimal disruption.

“I can assure everyone that it will be worth waiting for when they see the result of this landmark construction.”