Wedco unveiled plans yesterday for five townhouses in Dockyard Terrace to be renovated for rent.

Tenders will go out in the next two weeks for the units with work set to start before end of this year and to be completed by late 2004.

The homes, on the same block as the Masterworks building, are empty after being used by naval staff.

The listed buildings, which have two to three bed rooms, will be gutted and renovated but the exteriors will remain largely intact.

And Wedco announced ten loft rental apartments incorporating business space will be added to building number nine which runs parallel to the clock tower building between 2004 and 2005.

Wedco (West End Development Corporation) Commercial Manager Edward Williams said the plan was similar to successful programmes in England where loft conversions had helped regenerate urban living.

He said the rental living units would have two-bedrooms and office space.

"There's a large market looking to live and work at home. You have got broker, traders, architects, website designers, all sorts of people," said Mr. Williams.

At the same time building number six, which is tucked right behind the Clocktower building, is going to be converted into more retail space while a market square will link all three buildings.

Wedco manager Lloyd Telford said extra housing would help boost demand for business while Mr. Williams said west end residents might soon be able to enjoy locally based services such as pharmacists, doctors officers, realtors and lawyers offices while those living in easterly parishes would see it as an alternative centre.

He said cited examples in Manchester, England where loft conversions had brought the city alive again which was now providing a rival hub to London.

Mr. Lister said a paper was going to Cabinet aiming to relax restrictive 21-year business leases to the 40-50 year range to encourage more investment in Dockyard.

Earlier this week Wedco said it is aiming to double the population of the West End in five years.

There are now 230 homes under the Government quango, but it is set to create another 250.

The proposed construction of 56 units in the Victualler's Yard could begin within a year and a pensioners' community home is planned.

The West End Development Corporation (Wedco) is to be marketed under the logo The West End. Speaking after the launch PR man Walton Brown said Wedco would continue to be the legal name but The West End would be its trading name which would help to promote not just Dockyard but the rest of Sandys and Southampton. However Wedco only has jurisdiction over property from the north side of Watford Bridge to the Maritime Museum.