Approval given for Southampton seafront Spitfire memorial
Fundraising continues for the multi-million pound project
A project to build a Spitfire monument in a Southampton waterfront park has received planning permission for the third time as fundraising efforts continue.
The multi-million-pound National Spitfire Project is aiming to install the monument in the city where the aircraft was first designed.
A previous planning permission for an area of Mayflower Park expired in October.
The project team tabled a new application for the same location, with a request for a 10-year consent to support the remaining fundraising and delivery of the scheme.
However, members of Southampton City Council’s planning and rights of way panel narrowly voted to give a three-year approval term.
The 40-metre high monument will feature a stainless-steel Spitfire in flight, one-and-a-half times the scale of the original, and a “vapour trail” mast.
Project manager Steven Dean said the city council’s grant two years ago enabled the charity to progress fundraising efforts.
At the meeting on Tuesday, December 10, Mr Dean said: “In that time, we have secured £4,498,000 of funding from supporters such as the government, the Garfield Weston Foundation and BAE Systems, who use 17 local suppliers around Southampton.
“We are now over 75 per cent of the way there with funding.”
Mr Dean said the city council was a strategic partner for the project, adding that there were still non-planning matters related to the delivery phase that needed to be addressed.
Resident Ros Cassy said Old Town Community Forum believed it was the wrong site for the proposal.
Graham Linecar, of Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society, said Mayflower Park was an incredibly important asset for the city.
He said the society did not object to the application but he added arrangements for cleaning, safety inspection and maintenance needed to be secured.
Mr Linecar said: “Positioning a national memorial in Mayflower Park adds to the need to make more substantial improvements than in present plans and do something about tidying the unsightly wreckage of the derelict Royal Pier.”
Bargate ward councillor John Noon said he backed Southampton expressing its gratitude to the contribution of the Spitfire and designer Reginald Mitchell to the city but he felt it was “the wrong monument in the wrong place”.
Cllr Noon said a 10-year approval would “blight” the park and restrict future investment should the monument not be built.
Planning and rights of way panel member Cllr Sue Blatchford said she did not think it was the correct location.
She said: “I don’t think this monument protects and enhances Mayflower Park.”
Fellow panel member Cllr Jaden Beaurain disagreed.
“This has the potential to be an iconic Southampton landmark, whether we see it now or whether we see it in the future,” Cllr Beaurain said.
Cllr Sarah Wood added: “I think this monument would enhance the park.
“It would also be viewable by people travelling on cruise ships.”
The panel voted by four votes to three for a three-year consent period, with other members suggesting five years.
Panel chair Cllr Vivienne Windle said views on whether the monument would enhance the park were subjective, adding “you either like it or you hate it”.
She said the only reason she would not vote against was due to challenges defending the decision at appeal.
Cllr Windle said: “We have got to give them their three years to see if they can finally get all the funds and raise any concerns outside the planning system, which I have, with the relevant council departments.”
The application was granted by six votes to one, with Cllr Blatchford voting against.
The Spitfire was designed by Mr Mitchell at the Supermarine factor in Woolston, with the first prototype flown at Eastleigh Aerodrome, which is now Southampton Airport, in March 1936.