New drone pictures show the progress being made in demolishing an abandoned Southampton department store ahead of a multi-million pound transformation of the site.
The drone pictures show that a warehouse area and café have virtually been torn down at the Debenhams building on Queensway, which has been vacant since 2020.
A digger and a number of skips can be seen on the site, which has been cleared substantially.
A 17-storey tower block is set to take its place of the store, which is expected to contain 598 flats, nine townhouses and a 108-space car park, as well as a public plaza.
On site, demolition staff can be seen congregating around a digger and other vehicles, as the east side of the building is knocked down.
The drone photographer who goes by Bear Bones said: "They have taken the restaurant down and some part of the storage around the back.
"They are going to be moving towards the actual shop next. I asked one of the workers and he said the demolition was going to take seven months."
Read more: Tower at Debenhams site in Southampton 'will inject 1,000 people' into city centre
The Debenhams site at Queens Buildings has been vacant since the national retailer ceased trading in 2020.
Residents have told the Echo that they are unsure of the development, believing that the building could still have been used and that the area is already saturated with tower blocks, but also that something needed to be done with the site.
READ MORE: City divided on tower block plan as abandoned department store demolished
Southampton City Councillor for Bargate, Sarah Bogle is sad to see it demolished, but hopes the development will help the area. She said: "It is quite sad to see the edifice go but we hope we can get new development into the area and new homes for people to live,
"It is positive if that happens, we will see.
"This is the first stage, and at least they are moving forward. We need a site like this to be developed."
Developers have said previously said that the apartment block would ‘inject around 1,000 new residents into the city centre’.
It would also be the sixth tallest building in Southampton.
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