A SOUTHAMPTON youth centre, which locals campaigned to save earlier this year, is set to be bulldozed for housing.

Thornhill Youth Centre and Boys Club, on Bitterne Road East, closed after children and young people’s charity Youth Options, which leased the site from the city council, claimed the centre was underused and needed repairs, which it couldn’t afford to pay.

Now proposals for 12 two-bed flats and five three-bed homes will be built on the site, which includes a three-storey apartment block.

Southampton City Council planning officers have marked the plans for approval, which will also involve flattening the youth building.

A dance club and OAP group still use the centre – which opened in June 1945, with private event rooms also available to hire. But the council says the income generated by the site is “not sufficient” to run it, with costs of around £26,000 per year needed.

The centre does not receive council funding, nor National Lottery grants.

However, the proposals for the centre, labelled as an “important and valuable resource”, have been met with public backlash.

More than 40 people have written to the authority over its plans to give applicant GK Management the go-ahead at its planning meeting today.

One of those to object is business owner Stuart McNee, who set up the ‘Save Thornhill Youth Centre’ petition earlier this year.

He claims the centre was not marketed properly and could be viable if promoted.

“Considering the small running costs, it is very achievable to maintain this as a community centre. If more people were aware that it is available to rent, it would be full on a regular basis,” he said.

“We should be supporting our community centres, it can be used to help so many people. It helps the elderly socialise, the young stay off the streets, various classes and events and so much more.”

Local ward councillor Terry Streets was another to voice objection.

The application also includes 13 car parking spaces for the block of flats, and two for each of the five houses.

Planning officer Andrew Gregory said in the report: “Overall the scheme is acceptable and the level of development proposed will not result in an adverse impact on the amenities enjoyed by surrounding occupiers or to the character and appearance of the area.

“The community facility is no longer viable due to the lack of funding and limited number of user groups and there are alternative community facilities available within the surrounding area.”

He added: “The positive aspects of the scheme are not judged to be outweighed by the negative.”