MULTI-MILLION plans to revamp the former Toys R Us site in Southampton could see it partly turned into student accomodation.

Located just off Western Esplanade, the derelict building closed in 2018 and was sold to Packaged Living and Fiera Real Estate last year.

Plans were later announced to knock down the building and redevelop the site with more than 600 new homes, office space, shops and parking.

Now an application has been made requesting permission for the scheme, which is expected to see around £200m of investment.

The documents also say that one of the buildings could be used, or partly used, as student accommodation.

The application asks for planning permission for the demolition of all of the existing buildings and to construct four new buildings between 7 and 25 storeys tall.

Daily Echo: Toys R Us. Toys R Us.

Block A is planned to be made up of shops whilst Blocks B, C and D would contain 603 homes and shops on the ground floor.

Meanwhile, the application also seeks outline planning permission for one building of up to eight storeys which would be used for flexible commercial, residential and overnight accommodation.

Although planned to be “predominately car-free”, 105 parking spaces will be provided including 13 disability spaces for the first four blocks.

Meanwhile, the level of parking for the final building is not yet known but is not expected to exceed 20 spaces.

Daily Echo: Plans for Maritime Gateway, Western Esplanade, Southampton. Photo from: Packaged Living (Freof V Southampton) LLP/SCC planning portal. Plans for Maritime Gateway, Western Esplanade, Southampton. Photo from: Packaged Living (Freof V Southampton) LLP/SCC planning portal.

In the application it says the development will “create a new community in the heart of the city” giving a boost to the local economy and helping to revitalise the town centre.

Deputy council leader and cabinet member for growth, Cllr Jeremy Moulton said he is “very pleased” to see the plans submitted, adding that he is keen to see the it built “as soon as possible.”

“It’s going to provide hundreds of new homes, hundreds of new jobs and £200m of investment.

“It’s a key entry point to the city, coming from the south side of the railway station and the development will provide a new maritime promenade heading up into Westquay, creating a far better experience for visitors to the city.

“It will help the city centre economy and it’s a very sustainable location being literally next to the railway station” cllr Moulton said.

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But leader of the opposition, Cllr Satvir Kaur told the Echo: “Many are calling this a missed opportunity to have a joined up approach to city centre developments and I share those concerns.

“Labour had a Mayflower masterplan, which seems to have been replaced by a series of ad hoc projects, with nothing bringing them together and no long-term vision of how and what we’d like our city centre to look like and be.

“There is also a risk of this just being yet more unaffordable housing that local people cannot access.”