IT has been a long time in the planning but a landmark cultural hub in the heart of Southampton has finally been given the go ahead.

Some 14 years ago plans for the arts complex were first devised but today councillors have unanimously backed them promising a development the city could be proud of.

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, various plans to turn the former Tyrrell and Green site in Northern Above Bar into an arts complex have been drawn up and scrapped.

But today developers Grosvenor got the green light for their £40m scheme.

The development includes a £21m arts complex housing an art gallery, two theatres, a dance studio, a media and film facility and educational spaces and will provide up to 300 jobs.

Planning permission was granted for the development last October, but fresh plans were submitted to increase the number of flats at the site.

Daily Echo: How the Art Complex in Southampton's Cultural Quarter will look

As revealed in the Daily Echo, the scheme had been held up by funding wrangling and taxpayers will be paying £1m more than was first expected to fund the development.

That sparked fresh calls to sell off some of the city’s 3,700-piece art collection to fund the development, in line with the Daily Echo’s Show Us The Monet campaign.

In total, the city council will pay £6.7m while the Arts Council has provided a £5.7m grant and a separate £1.5m towards the art gallery.

Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster’s property company, will provide the rest.