Southampton residents celebrate their new-look neighbourhood

Community-spirited residents in Sholing have come together after Southampton City Council completed a host of neighbourhood improvement works near their homes

05/07/2023

Residents gathered outside a block of flats

Community-spirited residents in Sholing have come together after Southampton City Council completed a host of neighbourhood improvement works near their homes.

Residents joined ward councillors, housing management staff and landscaping colleagues from Hampshire County Council at a specially organised event to celebrate the transformation of the outside space around four blocks of flats at Dempsey Close and Kathleen Road.

Residents who live in the flats don’t have access to their own gardens, so plans were drawn up to make better use of the space and provide a designated, safe and accessible outside area for residents to call their own.

Thanks to £800,000 of funding from the council’s Decent Neighbourhoods programme, the area has a fantastic new look, featuring:

Informal play equipment for young children
Enclosed garden areas with seating
Resurfaced footpaths and new feature footpaths
Step-free access to the blocks
Refurbished and improved parking facilities
Fifty new trees, plus new plants and shrubs
Screened-off bin areas

The community, including many young children, was encouraged to comment on the proposals during the design phase, and with the work now complete, lots of people are enjoying being able to get outside and socialise with their neighbours.

The Decent Neighbourhoods programme helps to fund projects that make a real difference to council neighbourhoods and residents are always involved in deciding how the money is spent.

Councillor Lorna Fielker, Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Housing, Southampton City Council, said:
“Our communities are the lifeblood of Southampton and it’s so important that they have opportunities to shape the look and feel of their neighbourhoods, as they have here. These improvements have rejuvenated the outside space and will encourage everyone to enjoy their surroundings and feel proud about where they live.”