City's £200m waterfront plans back before council

A waterfront development that could see a hotel with a helipad, three 25-storey apartment blocks and restaurants built on an existing pier is set to go back before a planning panel.

The £200m development, at Town Quay in Southampton, was given the go-ahead in March.

It was given planning permission provided a legal agreement between the developer, Nicolas James Group, and the council was completed - but the deadlines have been missed.

Officers have recommended that councillors delegate to the director of transport and planning to grant planning permission with a four-year start period. This would be subject to the legal agreement being completed within one month of the panel meeting on Tuesday.

A planning officer's report said there had been steady progress on negotiating the legal agreement, known as a Section 106, which requires developers to financially contribute to local needs. The report said the agreement was close to completion.

The report added: "It is accepted that the planning application at Town Quay is more complex than usually considered in the city, with the requirement for additional consents outside the planning process and the extensive marine construction works needed."

The plans also include a new Red Jet passenger terminal and larger marina.

The existing office building on Town Quay would be knocked down to create a walkway to the 300-berth marina area.

The 460 apartments would be spread across one seven-storey and three 25-storey blocks.

The first of two build phases over four years would see the existing pier strengthened and the hotel with 128 bedrooms,18 serviced apartments and a spa built.