£200m development to transform Southampton waterfront recommended for approval
A final decision on the Town Quay scheme will be made next week
A huge £200million waterfront development in Southampton has been recommended for approval by council planning officers.
Nicolas James Group wants to transform the Town Quay site with proposals for a five-star hotel, hundreds of flats, restaurants, bars and retail space.
The application for full planning permission goes before councillors on the city council’s planning and rights of way panel on Tuesday (March 4th).
If approved, building work would take place in two phases with the strengthening of the existing pier and construction of the hotel taking approximately two years.
A further two-year phase would include the installation of wave screens, extension of the marina, relocation of the foot passenger ferry berths and the land reclamation needed to construct the four residential blocks.
The planning case officer’s report to the panel, which recommends granting the scheme, said: “The redevelopment of Town Quay would have a transformative impact on this prominent city centre site, which currently does little to contribute to the character of the city’s waterfront.
“The application proposes a high-quality approach to the architecture of the new buildings which is embedded in the city’s maritime heritage.”
The officer said the buildings would have a “distinctive” appearance on the city’s skyline.
Plans for the hotel feature 128 bedrooms and 18 service apartments, as well as a spa, restaurants, bars, conference facilities and a helipad on the roof.
A total of 460 flats are proposed across one seven-storey and three 25-storey blocks.
The residential element of the development would offer 55 one-bed, 372 two-bed and 33 three-bed apartments, with most having access to a private balcony.
Thirty-nine representations were made during a public consultation, with the majority raising various concerns over the proposals, including traffic and highway safety fears, the impact on listed buildings and conservation areas, and the absence of affordable housing.
The developer said viability issues meant affordable housing could not be provided on site and no off-site contribution could be given on top of the £6.099million community infrastructure levy requirement and £1.46million to achieve nutrient neutrality.
Planning officers are recommending early and late-stage viability reviews to monitor this position through a legal agreement.
“Whilst failing to secure affordable housing is a weakness of the application proposal, the adopted development plan allows for viability to be considered when determining the level of affordable housing,” the case officer’s report said.
“The proposal also brings other benefits to the city, including job creation and the delivery of homes and the much-needed regeneration of this site.”
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