TWO major arts groups are still hoping to play a significant role in the centrepiece of Southampton’s new Cultural Quarter.

Art Asia, the group behind the Southampton Mela festival, and the Nuffield Theatre had both found themselves written out of the plans for the city’s new art complex.

But both have said they plan to resubmit bids in the current review process.

It comes as Southampton City Council’s plans for the arts complex and its new Cultural Quarter moved a step closer.

Council chiefs have signed legal agreements with Grosvenor Developments Limited and Arts Council England, which has granted £7.2m for the complex on the site of the former Tyrrell and Green building in Above Bar Street.

The Daily Echo revealed back in July that the Nuffield Theatre and Art Asia had been written out of the plans.

Previously Art Asia said the Arts Council and City Council had refused to give any assurances about its place in the £21m complex, despite the fact that it had put up a £750,000 lottery grant it was awarded to it.

It was understood that Arts Council bosses had raised questions over the financial viability of the organisations in the face of funding cuts.

Vinod Desai, Art Asia’s chief executive, said: “Art Asia is a founding partner in the ten-year project to build Southampton’s new arts complex, which would have provided us with state-of-the-art facilities in the heart of the city’s emerging Cultural Quarter.

“We hope the current performing arts review will see our rightful place with in the complex returned.”

Kate Anderson, Nuffield Theatre executive director, said she understood the re-tender was because of the changes in the economic climate.

She said: “We will be putting forward a new tender in the spring. We very much hope that that will be successful. It’s not the case that they haven’t been keen to involve us.”

Confirmed operators for the new arts complex are John Hansard Gallery, University of Southampton and City Eye.

It will consist of performing arts, gallery and film or media studio space.

The council said a performing arts review is being undertaken at present to agree what type of performing arts operator will be needed.

A planning application for the project should be submitted by next spring, with work starting on site in 2012 and the launch of the new arts complex in 2015.

The council expects the new developments in the Cultural Quarter to generate around 2,000 jobs and a £21m additional visitor spend in the area.