Work to deliver a new bus hub and urban park in Southampton city centre is moving forward at pace.

The project will see the new transport facility and public green space next to the historic city walls.

The Castle Way and Albion Place car parks closed for good in January to allow initial work to begin.

In recent weeks, progress has been made on installing new footways and islands which will form part of the bus hub.

Southampton City Council is set to appoint a contractor to complete the groundworks and landscaping features such as planters, grass and hard surfacing for the urban park.

The £380,000 tender, which was advertised throughout May, is due to start in mid-June and finish at the end of October.

Cllr Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for environment and transport, said the bus hub will feature waiting facilities and travel information, with an emphasis on passenger safety through improved lighting and CCTV.

The urban park, which will be called Arundel Gardens, will create the first public green space within the Old Town for almost 60 years, Cllr Keogh said.

He added that it will celebrate Southampton’s “rich heritage and past experiences”.

This includes improved access to the city walls, creating tree-lined lawns and gardens with an art-scape motif that can be viewed from Arundel Tower.

Cllr Keogh said: “The aim of the scheme is to create a better-connected transport network and to offer people more travel options, whether that is driving, taking the bus, cycling, scooting, or walking.

“The bus hub will support a better bus provision for both residents and visitors, as well as a choice of transport options, so that journeys will become easier for all road users.”

The bus hub and urban park project is due to be completed in the autumn.

The city walls around the site have also been repaired as part of the city’s heritage investment programme.

Work is being carried out in collaboration with the council’s in-house heritage and archaeological experts and specialist contractors.

Cllr Keogh added: “The heritage repair project will ensure these nationally important historical assets will be available for the people of Southampton and visitors from across the globe to enjoy for the decades ahead.”