WHEN construction eventually begins, it will even dwarf the work currently being undertaken at the former Vosper Thornycroft site.

In many ways, the ambitious plans to reconnect the city with its waterfront at Mayflower Park and the Royal Pier is the most vital component of the three major schemes currently being looked at by city bosses to once again rejoin the city with its most precious commodity - the sea.

Moreover, it could give Southam-pton an elusive "Wow" factor and generate huge income from tourism.

The bid to inject the "Wow" factor has crept to the top of the city's political agenda following a hard-hitting report which highlighted Southamp-ton's lack of identity in comparison with other major cities such as Liverpool and Birmingham.

The city's problem, has, in addition, been thrown into sharp focus as Portsmouth's landmark Spinnaker Tower slowly takes shape just down the coast.

Until the early part of the 20th century, Southampton had its own distinctive shoreline which stretched from the old Eastern Docks, along the Western Esplanade and on towards Millbrook.

All that changed in the 1920s and 30s with the sale of the Pirelli site and the huge construction project that created the Western Docks.

But under ambitious plans which city chiefs have in place, Southampton could once again be a city with waterfront access for its citizens.

And within the next decade, it could again be possible to stroll along the promenade at Southampton Water.

The scale of the scheme would put even West Quay Stage Three in the shade and would count as one of the most dramatic changes that Southampton has ever seen.

Under the draft proposals, still very much in the discussion stage, the area around the Royal Pier would see the construction of hundreds of new homes, a hotel, a wide selection of bars and restaurants, limited office development and a quayside walkway linking Mayflower Park and a new Red Funnel ferry terminal - possibly sited in the edge of Eastern Docks.

Major points in the plan include expanding Mayflower Park by one third through reclaiming an area of water off the present shoreline.

The Royal Pier itself would be totally redeveloped while the next door area of water, now used by Red Funnel, would be infilled up to Town Quay.

Land would also be reclaimed between Town Quay and 48/49 berths in Eastern Docks, doing away with the present Hythe ferry terminal and marina.

The reclaimed land at Mayflower Park will also be used as a permanent home for the city's boatshow.

ABP and Crown Estates, who own the land, are pressing ahead with marketing the site to international developers.

The site will be advertised in March after the city receives the final inspector's report on its Local Plan which is due to be published early this year.

An ABP spokesman said: "The Royal Pier scheme is dependent upon the outcome of the Local Plan enquiry which is due early this year. The development plans include a mixed-use waterfront scheme, which is likely to be primarily residential, and will provide a permanent home for the boatshow."

City council leader Councillor Adrian Vinson said: "It is the biggest project of them all. It is potentially bigger than Woolston Riverside and the potential

visual impact. We are open to all suggestions. The project is still at a relatively early stage.

"The key feature is that reclamation is a very expensive business. It has to stack up financially, and that is the starting point.

"There is not, at this point, a master plan. The whole thing rests on the Local Plan which is at the moment being drafted and on which the inspector's comments will be available in January.

"ABP are well aware that the city council is in favour of the project. There is no reason to believe we have a problem there.

"It will be for ABP to partner a developer during the marketing process. It is going to be a lengthy project.

"It is a key piece in the jigsaw of reconnecting the city to its water-front."