That'll do ice-ly for the final link in West Quay

Proposals for the so-called West Quay III site - which runs from the side of the WestQuay shopping centre along the ancient city walls to The Quays swimming and diving complex - will be debated by councillors this week as they decide how to develop the premier plot. Local government reporter Kate Thompson looks at the city council's glittering vision for the land.

THE FINAL piece in Southampton's West Quay jigsaw is set to be put into place this week.

West Quay Phase III is the missing link in one of Europe's most major inner city redevelopment schemes.

Over the last decade or more, Southampton residents have seen the former Pirelli factory site off West Quay Road transformed. First to be built were the warehouse style units on the retail park.

While not being the most aesthetically pleasing development in the city, those retail units provided a necessary income prior to work starting on the jewel in the crown - the WestQuay shopping centre.

The £300m shopping mecca links from the traditional commercial area of Above Bar through to the retail park - a colossus straddling roads and major changes in levels.

The focus will now shift to the final parcel of land to be developed and the proposals will focus on leisure and pleasure.

The Phase III site - which runs from the edge of the shopping centre's Arundel Circus entrance through to The Quays swimming and diving complex - has been broken into segments.

The central area is the proposed site of the City Plaza - an open space that will cost around £3.1m to develop and next to it could be the proposed conference, concert and sporting venue that will contain the city's long awaited ice rink.

On the remaining sections of the land a mix of residential, retail and office use is planned.

In a detailed report to this Wednesday's meeting of the corporate committee, leading leisure consultant PMP gives its recommendations for what should be contained within the so-called multi-purpose facility or MPF.

Depending on the quality of the building, the leisure complex could cost up to £20m to build, say the experts.

"The consultants suggested that an MPF should be based around a 60m by 30m Olympic standard ice pad with at least 2,500 fixed seats. The seating capacity should also be capable of being increased to at least 4,000 for pop concerts by setting up additional seats on the arena floor," states the report.

The complex could be sited in a number of locations on the phase III site. Options include next to the Quays swimming-poool, next to the Plaza or next to the multi-storey car park. It is crucial to create the right mix of activities such as ice skating, ice hockey, concerts and exhibitions to ensure the commercial viability of the venue, PMP have warned.

If they get it right, the complex will enhance the regional profile of the city and mean that visitors coming to the WestQuay shopping centre from a 40-mile radius of the city, will linger longer.

PMP estimates that for every £1 spent in the proposed leisure complex up to £10 is generated for the local economy.

Councillor Derek Burke, the council's leisure executive member, said: "This would be the only 4,000-seat capacity venue for concerts outside of London. It would put Southampton on the map as far as the national and international circuit for bands is concerned."

Since the leisure venue was first mooted, the emphasis has been on the quality of the building. Cllr Burke does not want "a big tin shed" - he wants a landmark building.

"The location of the MPF is likely to affect the development costs. The impact will be greatest if located close to the Plaza and Town Walls and so a high-quality building will be of great importance.

"A lower-quality building and therefore less costly option is likely to be more acceptable on the western side of the site.

"As any development on this site will be the subject of market testing, developers may be tempted to reduce the quality of any building in order to submit a financially more attractive bid - this would be unacceptable at such a key site," said the council report.

To guarantee a high-quality construction, PMP has suggested the city council could subsidise the project to the tune of £2m, but council officers are pressing for the complex to be marketed initially without financial concessions.

Already five developers or operators have been identified by PMP as having a "serious interest" in creating a leisure and conference complex on the West Quay III site.

"It is critical that the MPF complements the use of the area. You will have shopping throughout the day until 8pm and then concerts will run in the evening. The MPF will extend the life of the area as we move towards the creation of a 24-hour city," said Cllr Burke.

The City Plaza or "People's Place" will also play a key role in the West Quay III development.

EDAW - the consultants who compiled the council's development blueprint for key sites in the city - have stressed the importance of this open space.

The council's report to the corporate committee states: "EDAW have developed a vision for the core of the WQ III site as a distinctive new location, a special people's place at the heart of Southampton.

"It would be focused around a new open-plan City Plaza capable of staging special events but animated by people and street-level activity at all times of the day, week and seasons.

"The surrounding buildings would be designed to be both contemporary and take advantage of the unique backdrop of the Town Walls and Old Town.

"They would have a mix of restaurants, retail, residential and commercial uses. The landscape and building design treatment will be distinctive, would transform the image of Southampton and would be an important addition to public spaces within the city centre."

The space for the Plaza is defined to the north by WestQuay and to the east by the Old Town Walls - new development along the southern and western fringes will enclose the area to create a three-dimensional space.

"A high-quality public space in itself acts as an attraction to both residents and visitors to the city. It will provide a distinctive environment for pedestrians travelling to and from other parts of the development, a public meeting place and a space for resting in the heart of the city.

"Apart from these day-to-day informal uses, the Plaza also provides the opportunity and flexibility to stage outdoor events, which cannot currently be provided in the parks because of covenant restrictions and in Above Bar precinct because of the limitations of operational space.

"The Plaza has the capacity to accommodate a range of events, from seasonal and speciality markets, to small concerts and corporate events," states the report.

To gain a picture of how it might look, EDAW has drawn comparisons with Broadgate in London, Victoria Square in Birmingham, Exchange Square, Manchester, Sankt Hans Torv Square in Copenhagen and Right of Man Square in Evry, France.

It estimates it will cost at least £3.1m to construct and would include high-quality paving and imaginative use of water, lighting, tree-planting and public art. Cafs and restaurants could also be encouraged to operate near the Plaza with outside seating to create a cosmopolitan feel.

Experts say that the new leisure complex that includes a long awaited ice rink could bring up to £800 million into Southamp-ton's economy.

The report to councillors warns that, unless the city progresses, the project it will lose credibility on this and future developments in Southampton.

"There are other development and investment opportunities around the country and only a limited number of developers/operators.

"PMP consultancy consider that if the city council does not move forward with this project now, the likelihood of securing an MPF in future is very limited," states a city council report.

Conference facilities would rival those of the neighbouring BIC in Bournemouth - but to steal any of the resort's multi-million pound conference trade, Southamp-ton must be able to offer better hotel accommodation. However, if the MPF goes ahead, hotel chains may be more interested in moving to the city.

Clive Tyers, Chairman of the British Association of Conference Destinations, believes Southampton could be front runner in the trade.

He said UK conference delegates spend £145 a day on average but the real money was with the international market.

"You can expect an average daily spend of £300 plus per day from visiting delegates. It is important to have a good international airport close by so delegates can fly in - this is definitely a market that Southampton could explore," said Mr Tyers, who is the head of conferences and exhibitions at the Bournemouth Inter-national Centre.

Councillors are expected to give the go-ahead for the venue that would be capable of hosting big name pop concerts and conferences - as well as containing the long awaited ice rink.

The complex could be sited in a variety of locations on the West Quay Phase III site - options include next to the proposed new City Plaza or on land close to the West Quay multi-storey car park.

Leisure executive member Councillor Derek Burke said councillors were being asked to agree how to proceed - should they work with different developers for different elements of the plan - or lease the site to just one developer?

"We have several options to discuss," he said.

Tory councillor John Hannides, who has tirelessly campaigned for an ice rink in the city, said there was still a long way to go but he felt positive Southampton residents could once again be taking to the ice.

"We are absolutely delighted that plans for an MPF are progressing. The significance of the ice rink and the other facilities that could be included in an MPF cannot be denied - this venture could be phenomenal for the economy, bringing in between £300m - £800m to the city.

"It's taken the best part of 15 years for us to get to a situation where we might be skating in the city again - we have to outline our commitment and let the market know we are keen to see this move forward," he said.

Southampton Ice Dance and Figure Skating Club secretary Edna Boden said: "After fighting for 12 years for a rink and working with the council we would love to see this happen.

"But we have been here before and it will be down to the financial commitment of the city council who have always said it is a private venture.

"An ice rink will be a valuable asset for the city but, much more importantly, also a facility for the community to bridge the leisure gap for youngsters.

"Ice skating is a marvellous family activity and our club would back this idea. Southampton lost such a valuable facility when the rink closed in 1988."