A MASTERPLAN to transform a dilapidated city centre site in Southampton into a thriving new complex of homes and shops has been given the green light.

Councillors rubberstamped a £60m scheme to overhaul the former Fruit and Vegetable Market site in the city centre into a complex with nearly 300 apartments and new shops.

And council chiefs hailed the ambitious plans to transform the Old Town site as filling “another piece of the jigsaw” in completing major schemes rejuvenating the city.

Southampton City Council’s planning committee approved an |application by Hampshire and Regional Property Group (HRPG) to create 279 one and two-bedroom apartments off Queensway and Bernard Street.

A collection of commercial buildings currently at the site have been disused for many years.

Now they will be knocked down to create buildings of up to seven storeys high as part of a new Fruit and Vegetable Market Quarter.

About 30 jobs could be created in a covered walkway featuring 899 sq m of commercial space, with a further 300 jobs created during the construction period.

Daily Echo:

The former market site as it is now

There will also be a new public space created near Back of the Walls and 35 per cent of homes there would be affordable housing.

Councillor Daniel Fitzhenry backed the scheme, telling the meeting that it will “inject life” into the area.

But resident Simon Reynier complained that the buildings would be too high, saying that they would create a “wind funnelling” effect in the streets below.

But HRPG chief executive Shaun Adams stressed that the height of one side of the building had already been lowered to reduce the visual impact on St Michael’s Church. He also said the number of parking spaces had been increased to 177 – including 28 public spaces on Queensway.

Approving the application, panel chairman Cllr Paul Lewzey said: “This is another piece of the Southampton jigsaw put together which will link up parts of the city.”

Afterwards Mr Adams hailed it as an “important scheme” for Southampton and added: “Demand for urban living is increasing in the south.

“This development will bring much-needed homes and jobs to the city.”

City council leader Cllr Simon Letts said: “It’s great to see another piece of the city centre masterplan fall into place. Along with Watermark WestQuay and the New Arts Complex this demonstrates that Southampton is now moving forward.”