A WELL connected city with imaginative public spaces, featuring iconic buildings and welcoming areas for everyone.

That's the 20-year vision for what Southampton will be like in 2026 as a city to live and work in.

To achieve this council strategists have identified the need to improve the city's built and natural environment through better design, properly maintained roads, more sustainable transport, increased recycling and promoting a sense of civic pride.

One of the main challenges they face is improving residents' satisfaction about the quality of life within their neighbourhoods.

A survey has revealed that residents' satisfaction with the local area as a place to live is 63 per cent with road and pavement repairs among the top five issues that people would like to see most improved.

People's satisfaction with parks and open spaces has also declined from 82 per cent in 2003/4 to 74 per cent in 2005.

One of the key trends identified leading up to 2026 is the predicted increase in traffic levels by 40 per cent.

Consequently, providing a transport network that is "efficient, reliable, affordable, accessible and safe" is one of the council's long-term aims.

They also want to improve residents' and visitors' perceptions to Southampton by improving the key gateways and approaches into the city.

Council bosses were forced to take down Southampton - Home of Ocean Sailing" signs on the major routes into Southampton two years ago after the city lost many of its most prized sailing events to Portsmouth.