TOYS R Us in Southampton is set to be demolished later this year as the regeneration of the area will get underway in 2023. 

Packaged Living, the owner of the former Toys R Us site at Western Esplanade confirmed the news after planning bosses backed the scheme on Tuesday.

The £200m scheme is planned to span across 4.8-acres and includes 60,000 sq ft of office space, 600 new homes, over 7,000 sq ft of food, drink and leisure venues and over 86,000 sq ft of new public spaces.

It is also expected to transform entry to the city from Southampton Central Railway Station, with a new walkway leading towards the waterfront named The International Maritime Promenade.

READ MORE: Green light for plans to transform Southampton Toys R Us site

Mark Woodrow, Packaged Living Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to have reached this important milestone for this vital strategic site. 

"Maritime Gateway will bring high quality placemaking and public realm having been designed through close collaboration with the Council and other key partners.

“In collaboration with the Council, we have agreed that student accommodation is not appropriate within this high-quality range of uses and will not be taken forward as part of this scheme.”

Since March 16, the former Toys R Us building has been used by Southampton’s Polish Social Club as part of their Help for Ukraine appeal.

The building is currently being used for the collection, storage and distribution of donations for Ukrainian refugees.

READ MORE: Former Toys R Us becomes donation centre to help refugees

But now work is due to get underway in 2023, creating up to 500 new jobs during and after construction. 

As part of the plans the residential blocks will comprise of studio, 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments.

A total of 500 bicycle racks and over 100 new car parking spaces will also be put in with electric car charging points.

It comes after councillors raised concerns at a meeting on Tuesday about the "minimalist" size of the homes as well as a lack of affordable housing. 

Despite this though, members of the planning and rights of way panel decided to back the scheme, with four of seven voting to delegate approval for the scheme to the Head of Planning and Economic Development.