PLANNING chiefs in Southampton have given the green light to £40m plans that will overhaul the city’s former Meridian television studio site.
Inland Homes handed in its proposals for the Meridian Gardens development last year and last night councillors unanimously gave the thumbs up for the proposals which will transform the derelict site.
The firm will create 350 homes, a convenience store and a new park on the back of the River Itchen after councillors on the planning committee accepted the recommendation by council officers to vote in favour of the scheme.
Matt Tucker, Labour ward councillor for Bargate, said: “This site is an absolute eyesore in its current form, so I am pleased to see we have a workable scheme.”
The approval for outline permission came despite concerns from the Southampton Common and Parks Protection Society, over the failure to use this as an opportunity to provide an open space along the riverside.
However, council officers told the meeting that the developers had looked at all options for the open space and they viewed that the best place for it was further back, where there is more sunlight.
The plans however will improve the current pathway along the riverside.
As previously reported, the site was well-known in the city for its long connection with television broadcasting, with ITV contractors Southern, TVS and finally Meridian all based at the site for decades.
But 2008 saw the end of broadcasting at the site after a £4.5billion merger between Meridian’s owners Granada and Carlton, and the subsequent decision to close the site.
Since then the site has lain derelict, and two previous schemes were put forward but never got close to fruition.
Inland Homes’ plans are for 351 homes, divided between 145 one-bed, 174 two-bed and eight three-bed apartments, as well as 12 three-bed “duplex” units and 12 three-bed houses.
Buildings at the site would range in height from two storeys on Summers Street to 13 storeys in the north-east part of the site.
And as well as space for a convenience store and other commercial units there would also be a 3,000 square metre open space along the eastern part of the site, linking Summers Street to the river.
One objection had been made to the council by a resident, concerned about the size of the development and traffic.
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