The much trumpeted return of a buoyant office market in Southampton, looks like turning into a reality, given the amount of recent uptake and new developments coming on line.

Last year, the biggest percentage increase in the Metropole region was in Southampton City Centre where take up more than doubled to 10,700m (116,000ft). This was attributed to the availability of refurbished office stock rather than new buildings coming onto the market, a situation which is now changing, with developers recognising that there is pent up demand for high quality new product in the city.

An example of the desirability of brand new Grade A space is the success of Number One, Dorset Street, recently completed by the Dorset Street Partnership. King Sturge advised the developer to speculatively build on a site that had lain empty for ten years, and before completion earlier this year, accountants Grant Thornton had signed up for three out of the four floors, a total of 1,765m (19,000ft), at a record rent for the city.

Work has just begun on the new headquarters for cruise firm Carnival, marking the next phase of development at West Quay, now that the city council has finally signed off a 999 year lease. The US company, owner of P&O Cruises and Cunard, will be accommodating nearly a thousand workers in the 6 storey 150,000ft building.

Now a rush of new schemes is hitting the planners which could once again put Southampton City Centre on the map as a place to relocate businesses to, rather than out of town.

These include a prestigious development on the Western side of the commercial heart of the city at Mayflower Plaza, adjacent to the Mayflower Theatre, where plans are currently awaiting approval for a mixed use development, including residential, an hotel and 9,290m (100,000ft) of office space in a ten storey building. This site, another that has remained unused for over ten years, was recently bought through King Sturge by Terrace Hill from Invista.

Facing Mayflower Plaza across Watts and Andrews Parks is the site of the former ambulance station where plans have just been approved for a £110m development which will include 8,996m (100,000ft) of office space at the end of St Andrews Road, an hotel and an 'apart-hotel', plus over 200 flats. To the north of the Law Courts on the main road out of Southampton, Linden Homes are to develop the former New College site which could include 0.81ha of Grade A office accommodation.

Suddenly, the whole nature of the Southampton market appears to be changing, and though some might point to the lack of takers for the McAleer and Rushe 7,710m (83,000ft) scheme at Charlotte Place, as a sign that all is not entirely well in the market. This, the largest building currently available in the city, has suffered from a failure to fit out the internal space, which has put a number of parties off seeking immediate occupation.

Southampton is one of the drivers of the wider South Hampshire economy and there is demand, as the recent record rent we achieved for Number One Dorset Street demonstrates, but quality is all important to today's corporate occupier.

At King Sturge, we maintain that the key to the future success of the office market will depend on how bullish the development sector is prepared to be over the next few years, and the signs are now definitely there that this is indeed happening. However, Southampton will only appear on the radar of major occupiers if there is a perception that the city can deliver the stock.

The Dorset Street Partnership Launch No 1 Dorset Street Southampton and London property professional were out in force last Friday to celebrate the pre letting of 3 floors of No 1 Dorset Street to Grant Thornton.

The remain floor was the venue for the lunchtime entertainment and Will Foster of Knight Frank took home a case of champagne for the prize draw.

Nik Cox of King Sturge hosted the event with CBRE and was delighted with the turnout.