Homes, shops and restaurants planned for former shopping centre site

A multi-million pound development to transform Southampton city centre is to move a step forward.

Plans for 519 homes, shops, restaurants, a new walkway and green spaces at the site of the former Bargate Shopping Centre will come under scrutiny next week.

If approved, the move is expected to create 115 new jobs.

It comes as developer Tellon Capital had previously planned to build a new hotel at the site, 287 homes and 7,343 square metres of retail space.

But the plans were amended last year as developers said the pandemic changed people’s habits.

The planned hotel unit has been scrapped in favour of more housing for a total of 519 flats in buildings ranging from four to 13-storeys.

The final plans also include a total of 2,515 square meters of retail space.

A final decision on the scheme is expected to be made on March 16 by Southampton City Council.

Developers said the proposed “linear park” from The Bargate to Queensway will showcase the city’s historic walls, which were previously hidden from view by the now-demolished shopping centre.

Cycle spaces and charging points for electric vehicles are also set to be created as part of the new development.

The retail units would be located along the High Street and Queensway on the outside of the site as opposed to running through the middle as previously proposed.

According to the amended plans, there would be 68 studio flats, 216 one-bedroom flats, 207 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom flats.

A total of 54 parking spaces and 348 cycle spaces would also be created.

Developers said to be committed to delivering a “fantastic” scheme in “an exceptionally challenging economic time”.

Bargate councillors welcomed the scheme and the reopening up of the city walls.

Giles Semper, executive director at GO!Southampton, the Business Improvement District (BID), said the development will provide “a much-wider boost to the city centre economy by bringing extra people into the area”.

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said it is “imperative” councillors approve the proposals as the city is “in dire need of more homes”.

But Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead said that while the investment is welcomed, it is “disappointing to see that none of these new homes will be affordable”.

Some concerns have also been raised by some local residents. But developers also stressed that 79% of the feedback received during a consultation was supportive of the proposals.

The City of Southampton Society said the proposed walkway along the walls “is narrow”and” there is only minimal green space”.

Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society said there is “nothing to draw people to use it as a route to destinations beyond the site”.

According to the plans the gap between the town wall and the new blocks would be 15m.

James Burchell, partner at Tellon Capital, said: “We are bringing back to life the walls. We will have a pathway and green area for people to enjoy. There’s no longer the occupational demand for High Street retail so we had to adjust our plans accordingly.”

He said “it is not economically viable” to have affordable homes at the site.

“We are excited to be able to hopefully deliver a scheme that is viable and will benefit Southampton city centre ad leave a legacy,” Mr Burchell added.

He said that if the plans are approved work could start between summer and autumn this year and it would take three to four years to complete.

The planning officers’s recommendation is for the scheme to be approved.

The meeting of the Planning and Rights of Way Panel will start at 5.30pm on Tuesday and will be held online.