A FLAGSHIP £70m city centre development in Southampton has moved another step closer.

Developer Hammerson has carried out a study into its derelict site next to WestQuay Shopping Centre as part of its planning permission bid, which found the huge development would pose no risk to any wildlife.

It hopes its Watermark WestQuay development, which goes before planners at the end of the month, will be just as successful as the neighbouring shopping centre, which it also built and which attracts 17m people a year.

Its proposals include a luxury cinema, rows of posh restaurants, a park and potentially the city’s tallest building.

Matt Tucker, the city council’s Cabinet member for economy and leisure, said the plan offered the city an economic bonanza. He said: “It is absolutely imperative for growth because we need to compete with the likes of Winchester, Basingstoke and Reading.

“There are also tens of thousands of people driving to Ikea, who drive straight in and straight out. Even if we could capture a small percentage of people to stay a few hours after that would have a massive effect.”

Cllr Tucker said a link to the waterfront would also be provided, where plans for regenerating the Royal Pier are under way. There have been several previous bids to build on the deserted site, but they were put on hold as the recession hit the city in 2008.

Now Hammerson, having signed a four-year deal with the city council to regenerate the site, has finally put in an outline planning application after publicising its initial plans last November.

If approved the Watermark would be built in two phases. The first would centre on a luxury cinema in a landmark building as tall as WestQuay with up to 15 restaurants and a number of other retail units, including a large unit, which could be occupied by a supermarket.

An esplanade would run alongside the medieval city walls, with a new “pocket-park” to the north of The Quays swimming complex.

Hammerson wants to complete the first phase within three years of planning being granted. The second phase, which may be built up to two years after the first, could feature a tower block containing up to 260 flats.

People can make comments about the environmental study, which is available from the Civic Centre, until July 24.