COUNCILLORS have given the final go ahead for work to start on Southampton's £15m Sea City Museum.
The ambitious project will see the Grade II* listed former Magistrates' Courts at the Civic Centre tranformed in the biggest redevelopment in the 78-year history of the building.
Final planning permission for the construction of the museum the granted by councillors this morning.
The museum, due to open in time to mark the 2012 centenary anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic in which 549 Sotonians lost their lives, will be a central piece of an emerging cultural quarter.
Havlock Spur road will be closed for 70-weeks for use as the main compound for the builders Kier Southern.
Despite winning a £4.6m Heritage Lottery Fund grant, Southampton City Council will need to borrow millions to make sure the museum is built on time.
A further £5m will be found through fundraising and just under £4m from selling unspecified leisure and heritage "assets".
The Daily Echo revealed a controversial plan to sell off works from the city's £180m, laregly hidden 3,500 piece art collection, was shelved in February.
Once it's built the landmark museum could be handed over to a private firm to run to make sure it turns a profit.
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