MAJOR roads in Southampton city centre could be pedestrianised as part of regeneration plans worth more than £80m.
Both East Street and Bargate Street could be closed to vehicles in a bid to improve walking and cycling.
Southampton City Council is bidding for £55m of funding from central government.
If successful, "immediate and urgent" repairs will be carried out on the Bargate, with the area surrounding the monument also set for a revamp.
New paving would be put in, as well as new lighting, seating and water features.
A further 2,250 square metres of public space is planned for Hanover Square with the extension of the city's cycle network from the Itchen Bridge to West Quay and a new bus hub at Vincents Walk.
The improvements are expected to support the construction of 1,200 new homes to the east of the Bargate and an extra 700 homes in the city centre.
They are part of three bids for the government’s Levelling Up funding which deputy leader of the council, Cllr Darren Paffey says could boost jobs, businesses and wellbeing.
Around £114m worth of benefits could be brought in by the city centre bid, the council says.
Cllr Paffey said the authority is "incredibly excited" to submit the bids which "have the needs of citizens at their heart".
On the scheme, Cllr Paffey said: “There is a view that anywhere in the South is affluent, but that is not a view that anyone here can realistically hold.
"We are effectively like a northern city that happened to be located in the south.
"This is about need, not geography. We want to give them a place that they are really proud to be.”
Asked on his pitch to Greg Clark, secretary of state for levelling up, Cllr Paffey said: “I’d ask (him) to look at the ambitions that we have.
"All the organisations that did come together to put Southampton on the map. Look at how determined we are (for City of Culture).
"Look at what we are doing to try and positively impact our residents.”
He added: "If successful in the bidding process we will be able to accelerate business growth and job creation, skills development, support space for leisure and culture, improve health and wellbeing, and protect the waterfront for future generations."
Also included in the plans is the previously announced regeneration of Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre, flood protection works on the Itchen Riverside and upgrades to Mayflower Park.
Removing the derelict Royal Pier and upgrading the park's revetments are also included, as are plans to improve flood resilience and bring new housing and employment on the Itchen River.
The area, according to the council, falls within the 10 per cent most deprived in England.
Council leader, Cllr Satvir Kaur said Southampton "needs its fair share of resources", adding that the council is committed to start work on the "much needed and exciting project".
"Off the back of losing out to the north on UK City of Culture, I hope the government will look more favourably on our requests," she said.
Cllr Paffey said plans are backed by all three Southampton MPs.
However, Royston Smith, who represents Southampton Itchen, said the proposals lack ambition.
"Southampton has been starved of investment for years. I have long said Levelling up is about opportunity not geography", he said.
"These schemes are not terribly ambitious from the city council but any investment we can achieve would, of course, be very welcome."
If successful in its bids, the council says it will launch public consultations on each aspect of the plans.
A council spokesperson said: "All the bids support Southampton’s vision to become a City of Opportunity, where no one is left behind, and everyone shares in the city’s prosperity."
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