SOUTHAMPTON business leaders and politicians have welcomed plans to create more than 1,000 jobs at a former disused factory site in Southampton.

Industrial developer Mountpark has announced that it will create more than 1,200 new jobs at the former Ford site in Swaythling following the completion of three industrial units with a further four in the planning process.

Swaythling Councillor Bob Painton, who worked at Ford for more than 30 years, said: “It’s a very strong bonus for the site that it has been maintained as industrial, maintaining Ford’s legacy.

“All employment for this area is welcomed especially if it gives opportunities for ex-Ford employees to rebuild their skills.”

Sandeep Sesodia, chair of the Southampton Business Board at Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is another fine example of the investment taking place in Southampton leading to development of industrial sites which in turn is creating welcome jobs in the area.

“Southampton as a city is gaining economic momentum and growing from strength to strength.”

But 74-year-old Mario Spacagna, a former taxi driver in Southampton for more than 25 years, has doubts.

He said: “I am concerned about the lack of plans for infrastructure, which is the last thing the developer seems to take into account.

“The traffic at the bridge on Wide Lane by the airport is always constantly a problem – especially for larger vehicles trying to enter and leave the motorway.

“The increased demands from the already congested junction at Southampton Road could cause serious gridlock.”

As reported yesterday, numerous tenants have already announced that they are moving in. These include Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Cooper Vision, a manufacturer of contact lenses, commercial laundry services Berendsen and health and beauty distributor Murray Health.

Southampton City Council is also currently in discussions with developers over their plans to build a prefab modular homes factory which would make basic frames for a mixture of modular prefab homes which could be located in one of the phase two industrial units.

The site, off Wide Lane in Swaythling, was closed in 2013 after Ford revealed controversial plans to move to production to Turkey, leading to the loss of 500 jobs. Mountpark purchased the site in 2015 and announced plans to invest £100m to turn it into an industrial park.