THOUSANDS of residents are being urged to fight plans to "cram" 1,650 homes onto the former VT site in Southampton.

Campaigners have sent out 6,000 leaflets warning that plans for the £500m development, regarded as one of the most important regeneration projects in the country, could end in "disaster" for Woolston.

Submitted plans reveal just 148, or nine per cent, of the new homes will houses. More than 1,500 will be flats.

Woolston Community Association warns that the "excessively high housing density" will bring traffic congestion and parking problems.

Andrew Middleton, chairman of the association's development section, said: "There are far too many dwellings. People are going to be crammed in. The housing is so small and cramped.

"The blocks of flats evoke memories of the worst creations of the communist era in Eastern European cities."

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He said the Centenary Quay development, which proposes 180 homes per hectare was twice as much as other developments in the city and up to nine times that in Woolston.

Ward councillors said they will object to the number of homes.

Paul Bulkeley, an architecture expert at the University of Southampton, said that while the density was high, it was comparable with many European inner or urban cities.

"We in Britain have a long way to go to be positive about density. There is no reason why it should equate to something negative.

"The key thing is to look at the quality of design, the spaces between buildings and the facilities."

City councillors are also worried that the development does not meet emerging planning rules requiring new developments to include 30 per cent family housing and 40 per cent affordable homes.

The policies, which received cross-party agreement, were drawn up in response to concern there were too many flats being built (see graphic below).

Council Cabinet member for planning councillor Jill Baston said she could not comment on the plans because it could be considered "predetermination".

Family housing Tory planning spokesman councillor Gavin Dick said: "We have made it clear we support family housing and wish it to be an integral part of this city. I think the views of the residents are quite clear: we don't want to see excessive flats."

Developers Crest Nicholson said the mix and number of homes was agreed in line with current council policy and met the maximum one quarter affordable housing.

"The mix of flats and houses as part of the development will ensure the development is commercially viable and sustainable," said a spokesman.

He said that the number of houses was double that planned by the architect Lord Richard Rogers.

City planning rules say developments within, and close to, the city centre should have a minimum density of 100 dwellings per hectare.

The deadline for objections is May 16.

The plans for Woolston Riverside

  • 1,653 new homes
  • 1,402 residential parking spaces
  • 1,931 cycle spaces for residents, workers and visitors.
  • Three star 100-bedroom "upper tier budget" hotel
  • 4,200 sq m supermarket
  • Health facility, library, restaurant and cafe
  • 1,208 new jobs, including 820 in the marine employment quarter