The final agreements have been signed which will see a new arts complex built in Southampton.

Legal agreements with both Arts Council England and Southampton City Council's development partner, Grosvenor Developments Limited, are now in place, representing a major milestone in bringing another critical element of Southampton's Cultural Quarter to fruition.

Grosvenor will now be working up detailed plans for the development with a view to submitting a planning application in Spring 2011, starting on site in 2012 and handing over the arts shell to the council in 2013.

The proposed mixed-use development will include restaurants, flats and Southampton’s new arts complex, which will be launched in early 2015. The arts complex will comprise around 75,000 sq ft of performing arts, gallery and film/media studio space across two iconic buildings.

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Councillor John Hannides, Cabinet Member for Leisure. Culture and Heritage, said: "This new arts complex will be at the heart of the city’s Cultural Quarter. It will be a place where all the arts can thrive and will draw in tens of thousands of visitors every year. It is great news that the final agreements have been put in place to make this aspiration a firm reality."

Confirmed operators for the new arts complex are John Hansard Gallery, University of Southampton and City Eye - who are responsible for running Southampton's Film Week.

A performing arts review is being undertaken at present to agree what type of performing arts operator will be needed for the performing arts aspect of the arts complex.

Simon Higman, Registrar and Chief Operating Officer of the University of Southampton, commented: "The Arts Council investment is excellent news for Southampton and for the University of Southampton’s John Hansard Gallery, which can now bring its internationally recognised programme to the city and a wider audience."

The agreements mark a critical step in enhancing the evolving Cultural Quarter, following the demolition of the former Tyrrell & Green building, the completion of One Guildhall Square, the refurbished and remodelled Guildhall Square events space and the start of the Sea City Museum building works, which will be complete in 2012.

The new developments in the Cultural Quarter are expected to bring in £175 million of private & public investment, generate around 2,000 jobs and £21 million additional visitor spend from over 1,000 additional visitors to the area of the city.

(CD/KMcA)