Earliest records show that the site was once open terrain with large sections of rough grassland around the western and southern edges. Ships have been built in this location since the mid 19th century, and until recently the site was expanded and developed continually. The western edge (bordering the River Itchen) is believed to have been heavily quarried for sand and gravel, which was then exported through the use of a jetty (one of two here) on the north west of the site. In June 1904, Vosper Thornycroft arrived. The company carried out its shipbuilding operations here for 100 years until it relocated to the famous HMNB Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
The site then fell into dereliction until the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) purchased it from Vosper Thornycroft in March 2003. Since then SEEDA has worked with Southampton City Council, English Partnerships, and Crest Nicholson to create a vision for an exciting development that will:
- Recognise the value of the site’s unique maritime history
- Provide safe access to the River Itchen
- Create a forward looking, new urban environment
- Create significant marine employment
- Boost the local and wider economy
- Embrace and celebrate the ecological environment
- Rejuvenate and bring a large area of Woolston back into productive use