Plan to build 98 flats between High Street and Castle Way

The city council has approved an application to demolish former office buildings sandwiched between High Street and Castle Way and redevelop the site.

KMRE Group has received consent to construct two buildings containing 98 flats, a residents' gym and an area of ground floor retail space.

It comes just days after almost 2,000 cannabis plants with a value of £3.8m were seized when police raided two disused buildings that currently occupy the site.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of producing a Class B drug but police say they are now being treated as potential victims.

KMRE's application to redevelop the site said: "In view of the poor appearance of the existing buildings, this presents an excellent opportunity to substantially improve the townscape in this part of central Southampton."

The proposed development viewed from High Street. Picture: Southampton City Council planning portal.

A council report said the site had excellent links to public transport, shops and local parking.

It added: "Servicing can be managed and is not expected to be harmful to local congestion or highway safety. Only limited on-site car parking is being proposed, therefore the scheme is not expected to have a significant impact on transport generation.

"Policy H2 of the Local Plan encourages the maximum use of derelict, vacant and underused land for residential development."

The report said the existing buildings had little historic or architectural importance and described the proposed development as an opportunity to enhance the special character of the area.

It added that the scheme would not look "unduly dominant" when viewed from either High Street or Castle Way.

"The proposed redevelopment provides an opportunity to bring this vacant site back into use," said the report.

"The proposal would help the city achieve its housing needs and submitted information demonstrates a high-quality development would be achieved that has a positive relationship with the surrounding area."

An aerial view of the existing site. Picture: Google.

The rectangular site borders the Old Town West and Old Town North conservation areas and is surrounded by listed buildings.

They include the ruins of the 14th century Holyrood Church, which was destroyed during the blitz in November 1940 and is now a memorial to merchant sailors.

The application sparked one letter of objection.

Southampton resident John Wright said the proposed development would increase the amount of traffic using High Street, Castle Way and neighbouring streets.

He added: "The area should be used to provide family housing to balance the perception the city is being saturated with soulless blocks."

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