IT'S the vacant city centre "eye-sore" which has blotted one of Southampton's busiest shopping precincts for more than four years.

But yesterday marked the beginning of the end for the ill-fated Bargate Centre.

Demolition work finally began on the derelict 1980's shopping complex, which has been boarded up since 2013.

Civic chiefs and staff from developers, Bargate Property Ltd, watched as a 150ft demolition claw began pulling off chunks of the centre's car-park.

It comes ahead of a £100 million overhaul of the site.

Once completed, the new area will include shops and restaurants, accommodation for 450 students, and 140 private apartments and the creation of 200 jobs.

It will also open up more of Southampton's historic walls, which council leader Simon Letts described as the city's "hidden treasures".

Speaking on site at the demolition, he said: "I'm delighted to see this scheme moving because the centre was an eye sore.

"This new development will link the Bargate to Debenhams, which is something we wanted to do because it's an important part of the city's shopping heritage.

"It will open up more of the city's walls.

"That is really important because they are one of Southampton's hidden treasures.

"This will be something which will bring people here."

James Burchell, partner at Tellon Capital, which is the asset and development manager for Bargate Property Ltd, said: "We are thrilled to get started on this project.

"This is a unique opportunity to regenerate a city centre site, taking into account 1000 years of history.

"(With the walls) it gives us an opportunity to do something a bit different.

"We are not just building a shopping centre or shopping street, we are creating something we hope will have a legacy."

Mr Burchell said demolition on the front of the centre, next to the Bargate, is set to begin in January next year.

Builders will then replace the centre with what is being described as a “terraced garden street” linking the 12th century Bargate monument to Queensway.

The newly pedestrianised street would be 15m wide and run parallel to East Street and Hanover Buildings.

It is set to include a mixture of cafes, restaurants and shops, as well as private rented and student accommodation.

Mr Burchell said he hoped the new area would be fully open in time for Christmas 2019.

He also confirmed that talks had already begun with a number of "exciting" potential occupiers for the retail slots.

Mr Burchell said he hoped to begin making announcements in the New Year.

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