Future of derelict Southampton pier could be decided soon
Southampton City Council wants to improve the waterfront
The Royal Pier in Southampton could be removed, repaired or redeveloped over the coming years, it has been revealed.
Cllr Daniel Fitzhenry, leader of Southampton City Council, has confirmed that the authority is looking into short-term plans to improve the waterfront.
This would include improved public space, toilets and play equipment at Mayflower Park.
But he also said that the short-term proposals for the site could include plans for the derelict Royal Pier.
It comes as a £450m waterfront development deal was terminated by the council in 2019 after five years.
A masterplan for the so-called Mayflower Quarter – the area between Mayflower Park and Southampton Central railway station – is currently being developed and would cover plans set to be implemented over a 25-year period.
But detailed short-term plans for Mayflower Park could be released by the beginning of next year.
Cllr Fitzhenry said: “The entire Mayflower Quarter is a 25-year plan and we want to deliver something much sooner than that and the city does not want to wait 25 years to see action on Mayflower Park and the pier. We will definitively be proceeding with a short-term plan for Mayflower Park and we are doing our best to see if we can incorporate the pier into those plans. In the short-term the pier could either be removed, repaired or redeveloped.”
Cllr Fitzhenry said work on Mayflower Park could start in 2023 to coincide with the beginning of the work on the Spirfire memorial.
It comes as in July this year councillors agreed to put £500,000 towards the 40m-high (131ft) monument.
Cllr Fitzhenry said the council is working with partners including Associated British Ports (ABP) which owns the Royal Pier site.
In a statement ABP said: “We are working with the council on the short and long-term plans, including how best to enhance the area between the city and the water. We need to fully scope out specific short-term plans but agree that there needs to be both a short-term and long-term approach. We are confident that effective partnership working will deliver something we can all be proud of.”
Cllr Satvir Kaur, leader of the opposition, said she hopes the council will not sell off or hand over all council land to private developers.
She added: “I’m pleased the Conservatives are still running with Labour’s Mayflower Quarter masterplan, which included regenerating Mayflower Park in the next few years. The pier belongs to ABP so I hope an agreed approach with them can be reached on either removing or replacing it.”
Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said: “For years we have tried to bring forward a comprehensive development for the Mayflower Park, Royal Pier area. It is complicated but we need to be bold and brave. Done properly, using the Spitfire Monument as the catalyst, it could rival the best waterfronts in the world not only enhancing the area for those living nearby but help to put Southampton on the map nationally and internationally.”