THE developer behind the new headquarters for Southampton mapping agency Ordnance Survey has won new outline approval to redevelop OS’s former home in the city, bringing 150 jobs.
Councillors backed Kier Property’s £40m plans to build 179 homes, new offices, shops, a restaurant and pub on the former Ordnance Survey site in Romsey Road.
The redevelopment of the eastern half of the old OS site could bring 150 jobs.
Kier has slightly reduced the number of homes and office space previously earmarked for the site and reduced the height of proposed gateway building along Romsey Road from six to three stories.
The developer now plans to build 89 houses and 90 flats around a central park on the site of OS’s former headquarters, the William Roy Building, which once housed 5,000 workers. It was demolished earlier this year.
A spokeswoman said: “We are delighted that our outline planning application for the Romsey Road development in Southampton was approved on a unanimous basis.”
She said planning agreements would be exchanged next month for formal planning permission to be issued in mid-November.
Kier, which has regional offices in Southampton, acquired the 24-acre site as part of a deal to develop a new landmark headquarters for OS at Adanac Park in Nursling.
The company has been behind a string of major developments in Southampton’s in recent years including a landmark new £32m police headquarters for Hampshire Constabulary and the £15m Sea City Museum extension to Southampton’s City Council’s Civic Centre.
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey has already started to build 193 new homes on the 11-acre western part of the former OS site.
Compass House, currently occupied by HM Customs & Excise among others, has been retained and refurbished.
