According to a report in the Southampton Echo, the Palmer Johnson project will improve Southampton's maritime reputation and put Woolston on the national and international map as a centre of excellence in boatbuilding.

The company picked Southampton ahead of numerous other European cities after being wooed by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), the regional development agency which put the deal together.

Palmer Johnson has already set up shop at the former RAF base in Hythe ahead of the move to Woolston and it is here that the new workers are likely to be employed until the new facility is up and running next summer. There are 20 workers currently at the site and they will soon be joined by 20 more.

‘The departure of Vospers after 100 years of marine manufacturing at Woolston could have meant the end of Southampton's long reputation in this sector,’ said Jimmy Chestnutt, of Southampton & Fareham Chamber of Commerce. ‘But we can now look to the future as the centre of an international marine hub on the Solent with Palmer Johnson.’