IT WAS supposed to be the venue for Southampton’s long-awaited ice rink, but more than a year after those plans bit the dust due to a lack of funding, proposals have been submitted to build 59 flats on the site of the former Chantry Hall.

The hall in St Mary’s was built in 1925, and for more than 80 years played a key role in the community as a centre for worship and a meeting place for various groups, among other uses.

But it was ravaged after arsonists started a fire there in 2007 and has been subsequently knocked down.

Developer Colin Warburg then brought forward plans for a £10m ice rink at the site in St Mary Street, which would have been the city’s first since Top Rank closed its doors in 1988.

He said the £10m rink would have been able to hold 800 spectators at a time and would have created 110 jobs.

But despite winning outline planning permission from Southampton City Council, he was forced to shelve his plans due to funding issues.

Now construction firm the Drew Smith Group has lodged plans with the council that would see a 59-flat complex built at the site.

A new building, ranging in height from three to six storeys, would be built there.

It would contain nine one-bedroom flats, 46 two-bedroom flats and four three-bedroom flats, some of which would be affordable housing.

The developer says the new building could be complete and ready for new tenants to move in within two years of planning permission being granted.

City council planners are due to make a decision by February 18.

The Drew Smith Group declined to comment.