New plans have been approved by Southampton City Council to progress a scheme to build 519 new homes in the heart of the city.

The Bargate Quarter development, which will have  2,515 square metres of commercial space, is set to inject £5.5 million into the local economy.

The scheme, which cost £132 million, has previously been hailed as "crucial" for the city and was expected to create 115 jobs.

Still a construction site, the quarter occupies the space once filled by The Bargate Shopping Centre first established in 1989, which gained its name from the iconic monument.

The latest plans to be approved will see advertisement hoardings for the development be placed around the road-facing perimeter of the site.

READ MORE: Drone pictures show progress in Bargate Quarter, Southampton

One of these boards says that developers Legal and General will be offering a "support package" to independent vendors who want to rent out a shop in the site's commercial spaces.

The development will also see a range of new shops and bars.The development will also see a range of new shops and bars. (Image: Bear Bones) This could include one year of free rent, "fit-out" and "marketing" support, according to the advertising boards. 

Hoardings say "coming 2026" as the construction site remains dwarfed by cranes and scaffolding three years into the development.

The development will see a range of new shops and bars in buildings ranging in height for four to 13 storeys.

READ MORE: Drone pictures show demolition of Debenhams in Southampton

Meticulously planned and landscaped green spaces are also hoping to showcase Southampton's history and heritage by shining a light on the nearby Bargate and city walls.

There were significant delays following the administration of Henry Construction Projects, but work restarted in the summer of 2024.

This was after Legal and General acquired the Southampton site from Tellon Capital due to contractors Henry Construction falling into administration.

The building firm had to halt work after being fined £234,000, after an incident in 2021 in which a demolition worker fell from a platform and was seriously injured at a separate construction site in London.

When work was restarted in the summer of 2024, the aim was to complete the project by early 2026, which advertising hoardings suggest will still be the case.