Community Intergration
Revitalising Old Northam Road
At ASL, we are deeply committed to the restoration and revitalisation of Southampton’s historic Old Northam Road. Working alongside Grays Developments Ltd, we are bringing new life to this once-thriving area by carefully restoring its unique shopfronts and creating a vibrant hub for independent businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs.
A prime example of this transformation is 49 Northam Road, now home to Joanna’s art glass studio and gallery, where she showcases her stunning artwork. This is just one of many spaces being revitalised to provide visitors with a unique and engaging shopping experience.
Our vision is to establish a diverse community of specialist shops, offering niche experiences that can’t be found elsewhere. By blending heritage with creativity, we aim to make Old Northam Road a destination for both locals and visitors—where people can explore, shop, and connect in a truly distinctive setting. Through these efforts, we are not only preserving the road’s rich history but also shaping its future as a lively and welcoming space for all.
The Victorian Shops
The ‘Before’ & ‘After’ Pictures show some of the restoration works already completed
Grays Developments Ltd has played a vital role in the revitalisation of Southampton’s Old Northam Road not only by restoring the buildings (as shown in the before & after pictures on the left), but by supporting small businesses, craftspeople, artists, and graduates through affordable rental initiatives. These have included low-start rent schemes and extended rent-free periods to help new and independent ventures establish themselves in one of the city’s most characterful and historically significant streets.
The initiative is open to any craftsperson, artist, or niche business that shares the vision of celebrating and preserving the heritage of Old Northam Road. It has helped foster a unique, creative, and inclusive community where culture, heritage, and enterprise meet.
As a community, we are united by our commitment to preserving and restoring this magical and historically rich area. Old Northam Road is home to Southampton’s last complete terrace of Victorian shops—located at numbers 37 to 53—and includes the historic Glebe Hotel (now known as the King Alfred pub). This terrace represents one of the most important pieces of surviving pre-war commercial architecture in the city.
Detailed plans and materials have already been assembled to restore this remarkable terrace and establish a dedicated Craft and Restoration Centre. This centre will train a new generation of artisans in traditional building crafts and heritage skills—many of which are in danger of being lost. It will not only help complete the restoration to the highest standards but leave behind lasting value for the city in the form of skills, jobs, and pride.
Our vision is to transform Old Northam Road into a nationally recognised example of heritage-led urban regeneration—one where heritage, education, and enterprise come together to breathe new life into forgotten spaces. With the right support, this can become a model for how cities like Southampton honour their past while building a creative and inclusive future.
We invite all who share this vision—residents, council officers, investors, and partners—to help us protect and realise the immense potential of this unique street. Too much progress has been made, and too much promise remains, to allow it to be lost.
In 2018, Joanna held one of her inspiring art lessons at 49 Northam Road, creating a space where people could come together to develop their artistic skills. These sessions quickly became a valued part of the community, offering a welcoming and creative environment for all.
Although the lessons were temporarily paused due to COVID-19, they have since resumed and continue to thrive. Joanna’s art classes remain an important part of Old Northam Road’s revival, contributing to the unique and vibrant community we are building through our restoration efforts.
This video captures one of Joanna’s frequent art lessons with our Chinese students at 49 Northam Road. These sessions provide a creative and relaxing environment where students can explore their artistic talents while immersing themselves in the local community. As part of our ongoing efforts to revitalise Old Northam Road, these lessons offer a unique cultural exchange, bringing people together through art