THIS is the vision for what a new ferry terminal in Southampton could look like.

Plans for a new Red Funnel terminal at Trafalgar Dock will go before the public next week.

The proposals are part of plans for the £450m Royal Pier development that will see Southamp-ton’s waterfront transformed into a thriving leisure and housing complex.

It will also feature a super-casino, an extended Mayflower Park featuring a huge Spitfire statue and could create hundreds of new jobs.

As part of the plans, Red Funnel’s current terminal off Town Quay will have to make way for the redevelopment of the crumbling Royal Pier site.

Moving the terminal to Trafalgar Dock will form part of the first phase of the development, and now the first image of the facilities, drawn up by architects Stride Treglown, has been revealed.

The new facilities would feature a bigger marshalling yard and cafe with outdoor seating, and construction work could start in 2016 if planning permission is granted.

An official bid for £15m of Government funding for the project is set to be made by the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership this month, and if successful it could also fund an upgrade of the ferry terminal in East Cowes and some refurbishment of the Red Funnel fleet as well.

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An artist's impression of the proposed development of the Royal Pier

Designs for the new terminal will go on show at Westgate Hall from 2-9pm on Monday.

It is expected an outline planning application for the whole site will be handed in next year, with the new terminal and extended Mayflower Park expected to be some of the first elements to be completed.

Speaking on behalf of Royal Pier Development Company, Charles Forsyth said: “In order for the main site to go ahead, we need to relocate the whole Red Funnel operation to free up the land.

“Therefore it’s an absolutely key component for what we are doing and it’s also important that there are several tangible benefits to the Red Funnel operation, including having a better terminal building, increasing punctuality and having easier processing of passengers.

“It’s a win-win situation.”

City council leader Simon Letts said: “This is an exciting step forward for this VIP project, the jewel in Southampton’s crown.

"Our council and the Isle of Wight Council are working closely together, with other external partners, on this £14.95m project to improve connectivity and journey experience to and from the Isle of Wight, via Southampton, and create two outstanding destinations.”