AMBITIOUS plans for a £70million development in the heart of Southampton will go before councillors today.

The city council's planning and rights of way panel will run the rule over outline plans for the creation of the Watermark WestQuay centre.

The derelict site, next to the WestQuay Shopping Centre, could eventually contain a luxury cinema, hotels, restaurants and the city's tallest building.

Hammerson, the firm behind the bold vision for the site, has signed a deal with the city council to regenerate the area, which is seen by civic chiefs as a key part of the regeneration of the city.

Earlier this year the developer carried out a study at the site which found that no wildlife would be put at risk by the proposed development, and outline plans were lodged with the council.

If they are approved, Watermark will be built in two phases.

The first will contain the cinema, cafes, restaurants and a large retail unit that could contain a supermarket.

There will also be an esplanade along the city's medieval walls, a pocket park next to the Quays Swimming and Diving Centre and a new pedestrian bridge connecting the WestQuay multi-storey car park with the first floor of the new development.

Hammerson wants to complete the building of the first phase within three years of permission being granted.

The second phase, which could be built up to two years after the first, could contain hotels, restaurants, offices and leisure alongside a residential tower which could rise as high as 27 storeys, making it Southampton's tallest building.

The tower would contain 140 to 260 flats, alongside 2,000sq m of leisure space.

Ahead of today's hearing, four residents living near to the site have registered objections.

They say the development would represent an overpopulation of the area and have described the proposals as an “insult” to the city's medieval walls with no attempt to enhance them.

They are supported in their concerns about the walls by the City of Southampton Society and the Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society.

There are also concerns over the potential height of the residential tower, while Associated British Ports has objected due to its potential impact on traffic travelling towards the city's port.

Nevertheless, the panel is recommended to delegate powers to the council's planning and development manager to grant permission.

If the outline application is approved, Hammerson will come back with more detailed proposals for the site in a fresh planning application.