A £100m masterplan to build 665 new homes on a Southampton council estate has moved a step closer to reality.

Civic chiefs have given the green light for new housing at the Townhill Park estate, which they say is a "milestone" scheme to replace dilapidated 1960s blocks at the site.

Now housing bosses say they are preparing to start the work by the end of this year revealing a new scheme to "build around" one resident who is holding up the development by defiantly refusing to leave their flat in one of the towers earmarked for demolition.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, Southampton City Council is set to seize the remaining property in Meggeson Avenue after failing to reach an agreement with the owner.

The council wants to demolish 426 flats to make way for the 665-home complex which would include buildings staggered between three and seven storeys, a village green and space for a shop.

Daily Echo:

As well as the empty blocks of flats, the empty Ark public house is also set to be torn down to make way for the new development.

The council's housing boss Warwick Payne, who has been attacked by his Conservative opponents over his handling of the scheme, said last night's ratification of the scheme represented an "important milestone" for the estate's regeneration.

He said the council was likely to make a compulsory purchase order for the remaining property, but added: "We are looking at splitting the phases of building work so that we can start work at the end of this year. We are looking at building around them [the owner] if they are still there."

Resident Kim Ayling, a member of the SO18 Big Local group, welcomed the scheme and said: "I'm glad as it's been a long time coming."

But she said it is crucial that more affordable housing is included in the project as only 35 per cent of the homes are in that bracket.

She was also worried about proposed roof gardens to mitigate the loss of open space caused by more houses being built.

Earlier councillor Matthew Claisse said he was concerned about the extra housing density and the resulting use of roof gardens to reclaim public space, telling the meeting: "My concern is people throwing things off them and children playing under the terraces and the risks involved.

"I hope they aren't there just to meet the housing density requirements. If there are risks and they have to be closed it is a lot of amenity space taken out of the equation."

But after councillors voted in favour of the scheme, panel chairman Mike Denness said: "We have a major housing issue in the city and this provides a good scheme for the area."

As previously reported the Labour authority had warned that Government changes to social rent could leave them £33m worse off in the next four years, and £493m over the next three decades.

They said that meant there may now not be any council homes as a result - but now say 50 council homes will be built in the first phase of the regeneration project thanks to a grant from the Homes and Communities Agency.

City housing boss Warwick Payne said the rest of the 276 homes built in the initial phase would be offered through the Government-backed first-time buyer Starter Home scheme.

He said plans to fund the second and third phases, and what type of houses they would contain, were subject to the final agreement on devolution of powers to Hampshire, which is currently being negotiated with Government.

A developer to build the new flats is likely to be appointed by the end of the year, with work then set to start next summer.

Cllr Payne said he is confident the roof gardens will be used safely and said: "They are a gift and if they are respected they can be an extra green lung for residents who will have wonderful views and a very original play space."