Ocean Village originated as part of Southampton’s 19th- century docklands, developed to support the city’s growing maritime trade, and served for over a century as a working port, providing passenger ferry terminals through to the 1980s.

The end of the ferry service left to its redevelopment as Ocean Village marina, opening in 1986 as a mixed use destination including leisure, residential and office uses. A further phase of regeneration occurred in the 2010s with the opening of the Harbour Hotel, and taller residential buildings.