MORE than 100 new flats are set to be built as part of the ongoing regeneration of an historic part of Southampton City Centre.

Developers are set to breathe new life into a disused shopping site in a move that will provide much-needed housing in the centre of the city.

In all, 120 privately rented flats are being earmarked for the plot in East Street, with space also being earmarked for retail use.

The plans are the latest announcement in the ongoing redevelopment of the area and come just days after detailed plans for the transformation of the former Bargate Shopping Centre were revealed.

The area is also set to welcome a new student accommodation complex and the potential for an Aldi supermarket, revamping the Capital House tower block and using part of the now derelict site of the former East Street shopping centre.

The 1970s centre was torn down to make way for a Morrisons supermarket, but that plan was axed after the landowner went bust.

Since then, plans by development giant Kier have been given the green light. As previously reported, cut-price supermarket Aldi are understood to be interested in part of the site.

The latest announcement for the area will see new development on the site of the former Tuned In store on the corner of East Street and Queensway.

East Street itself remains a thriving shopping hub and traders welcomed the new plans which they say will boost footfall in the area.

Nick Butt, 58, owner of Pink Broadway beauty in East Street, said: "I think it is a great idea for them to build flats on East Street.

"With the plans for the new Bargate centre to be built, I think it will completely regenerate the area."

The ambitious plans were unveiled at a public exhibition by developers Hampshire & Regional Property Group, who hope to submit their planning application this summer.

The five-storey development could also see a residential tower added to the site and proposals include a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments with ground-floor parking.

The street-facing ground-floor units will remain in commercial use.

Hampshire & Regional Property Group are the driving force behind the developments along East Street and the former fruit and vegetable market on Queensway.

Allan Gordon, managing director of developers Hampshire & Regional Property Group, said: "We are delighted to be bringing forward another redevelopment proposal for this area of the city.

"We have been working carefully over the past few months to put together an emerging scheme that we feel would enhance and contribute positively to the local area.

"Community feedback is important to us and will help inform our proposals as we move towards a planning application early this summer.

"We look forward to meeting with local residents and business owners."

Council leader Simon Letts, pictured, said the latest proposal for the area was the latest piece of a masterplan vision for the area.

He said: "We are starting to put the pieces of the jigsaw together because we have got the potential for the Aldi supermarket and student flats at the bottom of East Street and the Bargate centre, so this is starting to fit into a real masterplan for the whole East Street and Debenhams area."

As previously reported, plans for the nearby Bargate Shopping Centre were unveiled last week which will see it demolished and replaced with up to 80,000 square feet of shops, accommodation for 400 students and 140 private flats, and create around 200 jobs once completed.

The two-year construction by Tellon Capital, the company which owns Bargate Property Ltd, would also see a "terraced garden street" running from the 12th-century Bargate monument to Queensway.