PLANS to build one of the most luxurious hotels in the world in Southampton have moved a step forward.

City Council chiefs have given the green light to an ambitious project, which could see a 45-room hotel styled similar to the Burj Al Arab in Dubia, built in lower High Street.

The plan would also help pay for Southampton's proposed multi-million-pound heritage centre to be located next to the hotel.

Southampton based developers, Weyly Ltd will be given exclusive rights to the council-owned land in lower High Street for nine months while they put the finishing touches to the ambitious project designs.

In return, company bosses have pledged to pay council heritage chiefs £50,000 to excavate the sensitive archaeological remains at the site.

News of the scheme to build the £35m hotel was first revealed in the Daily Echo last week. It would be built to the same exacting standards as the Burj Al Arab - the world's only seven-star rated hotel.

According to Weyly, the luxury building, which would contain a spa, and an exclusive members only club, would be rated between five and seven stars .

The project was given the thumbs up by members of the city council's ruling Liberal Democrat party yesterday.

Other luxurious features would include a glass atrium, which would cover a public square that would be incorporated into the building. Also, it would contain a theatre and luxury apartments.

The hotel would boast about 45 top quality rooms and will be between five and six stories high.

City Council leader, Councillor Adrian Vinson, said: "This has the potential to be a very exciting development."

Cabinet member for tourism and leisure Councillor Peter Wakeford added: "It is very pleasing to see the progress towards a major attraction for the city."