WHEN it is built it will be Southampton’s tallest building.

Today developers have insisted they are fully committed to this stunning hotel proposal despite putting in plans for a car park on the site.

They want to build a 70-space car park on part of a prominent plot they had cleared for a luxury 22-storey hotel, flats and short-stay apartments.

But London based Imperial Property insisted their proposal for a car park for 18 months off St Andrew’s Road is just a way of bringing in some extra cash while it is waiting for approval of a revised planning application for the four-star Radisson SAS hotel.

It comes as series of major developments – hailed by the city council as a renaissance for the city – have already collapsed or been shelved due to the economic downturn.

But Imperial’s commercial manager David Glover said: “In terms of the car park it’s a temporary measure until we start work on the hotel on the site. It’s a delay but it’s not mothballed.”

He added: “I’m not in the business of building car parks. Finances are challenging at the moment, there are no two ways about it. But Radisson is the hotel operator. They are firmly behind us. It’s not going to happen overnight but we are still committed to the site.”

However, Mr Glover refused to commit to a start date.

Planning permission for a landmark 200-bed hotel, off East Park Terrace was approved by councillors almost two years ago, as part of a £110m development also including a 14-storey block of 219 flats and a smaller 122-room apartment-hotel.

The hotel will reach 83 metres (272ft) thanks to a metal spire, higher than the present tallest building in the city, Millbrook Towers, at 25 storeys and 73m.

The revised plans feature a sleeker and more elegant design and incorporate a 21st floor cocktail bar with external viewing balconies.

The redevelopment of the East Park Terrace site, formerly 1960s offices and a former ambulance station, is set to bring 550 jobs from the hotels and 8,500 square metres of office space.

Delph Property Group acquired the bulk of the apartments last year to rent out on the open market, with a housing association agreeing to take the rest.

The block was originally due to be completed by the end of 2009.

Delph said it was still committed to the development.