PLANS to replace a derelict Southampton pub with a "car-free" block of flats have sparked a flurry of objections.

The city council has received an application to transform a Coxford Road site occupied by the former Bridge Tavern, which closed about 15 years ago.

Darcy Construction wants to replace it with a four-storey block containing 15 flats - but no car parking will be provided for the occupiers.

Critics claim the scheme is out of character and amounts to overdevelopment. They also say it will increase the shortage of parking spaces in the area, which is near University Hospital Southampton.

Daily Echo: Darcy Construction has submitted plans to replace the Bridge Tavern in Coxford Road, Southampton, with a block of flats. Picture: Southampton City Council planning portal.Darcy Construction has submitted plans to replace the Bridge Tavern in Coxford Road, Southampton, with a block of flats. Picture: Southampton City Council planning portal.

Objectors include David Gray, of Coxford Drove.

His letter to the council says: "The area already struggles with parking due to the close proximity of the hospital, with employees and visitors parking in local roads."

Terry Blake, of Coxford Close, adds: "Lack of parking is a major concern. Adding another 15 dwellings, with a possibility of two people in each - each owning a vehicle - is ludicrous."

Andrew Hetherton, of Hill Lane, says the lack of parking for people living in the flats will aggravate a problem that already exists.

Daily Echo: Darcy Construction has submitted plans to replace the Bridge Tavern in Coxford Road, Southampton, with a block of flats. Picture: Southampton City Council planning portal.Darcy Construction has submitted plans to replace the Bridge Tavern in Coxford Road, Southampton, with a block of flats. Picture: Southampton City Council planning portal.

The City of Southampton Society has also lodged an objection to the "out of character" proposal, saying many of the properties near the site are bungalows.

It adds: "The absence of parking spaces for the residents of the 15 proposed new flats will create a shortage of street parking in the area, to the detriment of existing residents."

But the application claims the proposed development will have "no impact" on surrounding roads.

"It is proposed that the development will be car-free, requiring all associated parking to take place on-street," it says.

"Existing on-street parking levels have been assessed by undertaking a survey intended to capture the maximum residential parking demand within a 200-mete radius of the site.

"The survey indicates that across the assessment area the equivalent of 189 unrestricted parking spaces are available.

"It is concluded that there is ample spare capacity on surrounding roads to accommodate any overspill parking demand resulting from the development."

The application says the plans will result in a "highly desirable" housing scheme.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News