A CONTAINER complex in Southampton has been granted a 10-year permission.

Part of College Street car park in the city centre is set to be turned into a container complex set to provide space for new restaurants, bars as well as offices for artists and start-ups.

The plans were first approved last year when the scheme was granted a five-year permission.

But fresh proposals for a 10-year permission have now been given the go-ahead.

Developers said the College Street Yard will be “a destination”.

But local residents raised concerns over noise and pollution and asked planners not to grant a 10-year permission.

Simon Reynier from City of Southampton Society said: “Ten years is pushing it too far.”

But Matthew Sanger – who put the plans forward – said that similar schemes in other cities energised neighbourhoods, led to redevelopments and had a positive impact on the community.

He added: “I am excited about what this can add to our city’s options for creative activities. This is particularly important now when we need to recover from Covid-19. College Street Yard will be a destination.”

According to the plans, 20ft (6m) or 40ft (12m) long container units would be  arranged to form two internal courtyard spaces.

Some of them would be powder coated “with vibrant colour” and others would be double stacked on the western side to form an upper floor bar and terrace and artists’ studio.

The site is set to operate from 7am to 11pm Monday to Friday while containers earmarked for food and drink uses would open from 11am to 11pm Monday to Sunday.

Six special entertainment and live music events are proposed per year.

The move would result in the loss of 73 parking spaces.

Officers previously said the development “will not lead to adverse noise impact”.

They also told members that the opening hours were deemed “acceptable”.

The panel decided to approve the request for a 10-year permission.