These included increasing sanitation work – like constructing sewers and regulating slaughterhouses, as well as allowing the authority to widen and pave streets.

The act also allowed the council to protect common land from development, which allowed the council to turn the Southampton Common into a public park – and set the path for the creation of the Southampton Central Parks.

The act also allowed for the area between Southampton Terminus railway station and the Woolston Floating Bridge, which at the time was an undrained marsh to be developed on by the London and Southampton Railway.

The revenue raised by the sale allowed the council to acquire land.

This was used for local improvements including more recreational space around the town, and widening roads.