RADICAL plans to transform Southampton's Vosper Thornycroft site into a prime waterside location move a step forward next week.

A planning blueprint has identified the area for industrial uses, homes, shops and leisure facilities.

It will become vacant when the shipbuilders relocates its operations to Portsmouth late next year. A full city council meeting will debate the revised draft of the local plan review at the Civic Centre on Wednesday from 2pm.

Councillors are being recommended to endorse the plan for public consultation.

The initial draft version, which covers various aspects of potential development in Southampton, attracted about 1,800 objections when released last year.

A report for Wednesday's meeting said: "Considerable discussions have taken place during the past months with officers across the council, in analysing the representations and the subsequent drafting of responses to them and amending the plan where appropriate.

"Meetings and correspondence have also taken place with some objectors to try to resolve their concerns."

Vosper bosses began discussions with city council chiefs over the future of the site when they announced they were moving the bulk of operations. Council leader Councillor June Bridle said she hoped the plans for the site would open up more of the Woolston waterfront to local residents.

VT launched plans to create up to 1,000 new jobs in the region if it won a sizeable chunk of the MoD contract to build the next generation of RN aircraft carriers.