4:10pm Tuesday 20th July 2010
By Matt Smith
TEN million pound plans for an Olympic ice rink complex in Southampton have been approved by councillors today.
Developer Colin Warburg wants to build a 56m x 26m ice pad, with seating for over 800 spectators, on the former Chantry Hall site in St Mary’s.
It could become home to a city-based ice hockey team and provide a home for figure skaters.
Skating fans have been crying out for a new rink to be built since Southampton’s Top Rank ice rink closed its doors for the last time in 1988. They currently have to travel to rinks in Gosport, Basingstoke or Guildford.
Fifty residents and other organisations have backed the plans which will also include shops, a café, and restaurant.
The complex is expected to create more than 110 jobs.
The proposed four-storey building will have 75 covered parking spaces.
The rink would open from 5am to 2am in the morning attracting some 260,000 skaters each year. Ice hockey matches will take place twice a fortnight at weekends.
Mr Warburg, who owns Warburg Property Development, said he had received overwhelming support for his scheme which he said would bring “considerable community benefits” to Southampton.
He insisted the project was financially viable despite temporary ice rinks put up by the council and Olympic skating star Robin Cousins in recent years both making losses.
Mr Warburg said: “Once planning has been received we will move forward to secure finance on the whole project. The economic position is different to what it was two years ago but we still have the banks on board to work with us on this project.”
Construction will take about 18 months meaning if approved the rink could open by early 2012.
Mr Warburg’s previous proposal for a £80m Olympic size rink and 28-storey apartment tower in St Mary’s Road, off the Charlotte Place roundabout, was scuppered when the council refused to sell him the land cheaply.
Edna Boden, secretary of the Southampton Ice Dance and Figure Skating Club, said: “We’re 150 per cent behind this.
It’s going to be absolutely fantastic.
We cannot wait to skate again this city. I wish him the best of luck.”
Council leisure boss councillor John Hannides also welcomed the proposal. “We would be very happy to see an ice rink in the city. We wish him every success.” But he said no public funds would be available.
The Grade II listed Chantry Hall was destroyed in an arson attack three years ago.
Mr Warburg now has to convince planners and councillors of the architectural and landscape merits to obtain full planning permission.
He also has to clarify how it will be used for other purposes, such as staging concerts.
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