A £150m flagship development for Southampton city centre has today taken another major step forward.

Developers Hammerson have signed the development agreement with Southampton City Council for Watermark WestQuay, reaffirming their commitment to making the project a reality.

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Restaurants, major new shops, a hotel and a luxury 14-screen cinema are set to built on an empty plot next to the city's medieval walls, alongside a landmark tower block up to 27 storeys or 95m high and comprising up to 240 apartments.

The signing follows the granting of outline planning permission last year, and legally binds both parties to working on the project.

Council bosses say the development will help reinvigorate the city centre, and create 1,000 new jobs.

Deputy council leader, Cllr Royston Smith said: "This is the chance we have been waiting for to transform this site into one of the most exciting and attractive new mixed-use developments in the UK."