CIVIC chiefs have unveiled a bold blueprint to transform a Southampton community over the next decade.

Up to 500 new homes, shops and public space could be built as part of a major multi-million pound project that will overhaul large parts of Millbrook, Redbridge and Maybush.

Council chiefs say the proposals are at a very early stage, but could be the first in a line of projects to regenerate estates across Southampton.

However the plans have already proven controversial, with proposals to build homes over the site of sports fields criticised, and opposition councillors calling the proposals “second rate”.

Letters were sent out to 800 residents in Millbrook and Maybush last month to inform them about the proposals, with the council collecting consultation results before firm plans are put together.

Their blueprint currently contains the potential for 500 new homes, some for rent and others for sale.

New shops, sports areas, play spaces and road improvements could also be carried out as part of the proposals.

One part of the proposals would be to build about 140 new homes in five apartment blocks at the southern end of Green Park.

Daily Echo: Football pitches in Millbrook

One football pitch would make way for the houses, but the council says new pitches and games areas could be created at the park.

The area around Millbrook Tower could be set for a make-over, with a new public square created around the tower and up to 230 new homes built in the surrounding area.

Eighty-five existing homes would have to make way for the mixture of houses, maisonettes and apartments, while new parking areas and green space would be created at Lulworth Close.

Existing shops would be knocked down and moved into new buildings, with the council stressing that new buildings will be created before old ones are demolished.

Twenty-nine homes in Kendal Avenue would be demolished to make way for a mixture of 80 new apartments and maisonettes, and current shops would be replaced before being knocked down.

Redbridge Hill could be set for a major overhaul which would see 40 new apartments and houses built on either side of the road and the road layout improved.

And seven houses could be created along Wimpson Lane on the site of green verges.

The council says at least one new parking space would be provided for each new home, and trees would be planted along many roads to improve the environment.

Work could also see green verges turned into parking bays, cycle routes, footpaths and roads improved and new safe crossing areas added.

The project could then be followed by projects to regenerate parts of Northam, Thornhill, Weston and Holyrood.

Daily Echo: Millbrook Towers

But Conservative opposition deputy leader Jeremy Moulton has criticised the plans as being “second-rate” and not as ambitious as the major regeneration of Townhill Park estate initiated under his party’s term in office.

He said: “It’s a case of tarting up, a bit of paint here and there and building on green spaces – what it isn’t is a proper regeneration of the estate.

“What we would like to see is buildings that are well past their sell-by date torn down and replaced by high quality developments that will provide better design and more homes.”

The proposals to build on the football pitch at Green Park has been criticised, with Cllr Moulton adding: “It’s ridiculous – there’s huge demand for football pitches on Sundays and there’s not enough, so building on pitches is simply crazy.”

And Southampton Sunday Football League secretary Hazel Andrews said: “I don’t think it’s a good idea to build homes on playing pitches.

“They are meant to be trying to encourage people to play sport, not shut pitches down so they can’t play.”

Labour council housing chief Warwick Payne said the council will pick which ideas to continue with based on the response from residents.

He said: “The council hasn’t tied itself to any proposals yet, so if something’s popular we’ll take it forward, and if it isn’t, we’ll take it out.

“Feedback from residents will be crucial as there’s no point spending large sums of money without their support, and that’s why the consultation is important.”

Responding to Cllr Moulton’s criticism, he said the net gain of new properties would be as much as 385, compared to 240 in Townhill Park, adding: “Given that this would be the largest net gain of new homes on any Southampton council estate for more than a generation, Tory accusations of the plans not being ambitious enough look ill-informed.

Daily Echo: Millbrook Estate as seen from above

“It also suggests the dividing line between the two parties is that Labour wants to maximise new homes for Southampton families, while the Tories’ measure of success is how much council housing they can wipe off the map.”

Eugene McManus, landlord of The Saints pub and chairman of the Redbridge Residents’ Association, said: “I think they are trying to be too ambitious – I don’t believe there is enough space to fit in these houses.”

But Mo Simmons, block representative for residents at Millbrook Tower, said: “I think the area does need this work. People say to me that if you go to other areas of the city they look lovely, but come to Millbrook and you have a dump.”

A council spokesman said no costs have been confirmed, although most of it will be funded through the authority’s housing revenue account, which is funded by council housing rent and other income.

There is no current timetable for any work, but the council has said no-one will have to move out of their home in either 2014 or 2015.

You can obtain consultation forms online at southampton.gov.uk or at the Civic Centre, and can return them by emailing Housing.DeliveryandRenewal@southampton.gov.uk or posting them to Housing Delivery and Renewal, Southampton City Council, Ground Floor, Civic Centre, Southampton, SO14 7LY. The deadline is September 30.