OUR readers have reacted to the latest plans to revamp the former Toys R Us site in Southampton.

Today the Echo reported that the once-bustling store could be 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.

Former employees of Toys R Us in Southampton get together for a farewell celebration.

Former employees of Toys R Us in Southampton get together for a farewell celebration.

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

Read the full story by clicking here.

Here is what our readers think:

  1. User pyan said: "Shops, offices, flats. Yawn."
  2. GRUMPY BOY commented: "Southampton or little Manhattan, all we need is a Metro, as there's very little parking for anyone living there? You wish that Labour and Tories could work together instead of acting like a bunch of school ground kids."
  3. Soton Craig David Airport said: "Excellent plans; do have a look on the Packaged living website (this simple sketch does not do it justice). It's time that Southampton looked like a proper, modern city, justifying its status as the central South's economic powerhouse, rather than the sprawling low-density incoherent mess it is currently."
  4. Phil O'Sofficial: "We don't need more shops, the existing ones are hard to fill. Shopping as we knew it has changed. This is a golden opportunity for a proper bus and coach station, right next to the railway station ( which needs completely revamping ). This would give us an integrated transport set up, next to the shopping area."
  5. mousestum: "I hope it will go through for housing but not really high blocks and definitely no more student accommodation. There's loads of it still not filled. People who are Southampton born are inadequately housed, put them first."
  6. OldEastStander: "Building up saves sprawling out, this will preserve our fantastic green spaces in the city centre."
  7. Peter R soton: "A parked car causes no pollution. Town centre parking and park and ride are essential for a thriving city centre."