Businesses see new Opportunities to Live & Work in the City

CITY Champions were so keen to view the latest living and work spaces at Ocean Village, there was a waiting list for places at the Business Southampton event.

Business leaders had the chance to see the live/work units at the Splash! development before heading to the Ocean Village Innovation Centre (OVIC) next door.

Managing Director of Linden Homes, Patrick Feighery, explained the concept for the live/work units harked back to the days of ‘living over the shop’.

He said: “The live work units are ideal for entrepreneurs and they give the opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint by having your work space and home together.”

Chris Allington, Managing Director of Oxford Innovation who run the Ocean Village Innovation Centre, welcomed City Champions and explained that they had 17 centres across the UK but the Southampton venture was the first to be wholly private sector funded.

“We have five customers in the building since December including Business Southampton who were the first to move in.

“There has been a great deal of interest and we hope it will become a hub for business in Southampton,” he said.Business Southampton CEO, Sally Lynskey, said: “This was a great opportunity for City Champions to see for themselves what was on offer at the Splash! development and OVIC.“It was really well attended and proves just how keen City Champions are to keep up to speed with what is happening in Southampton.”