REVISED plans have been drawn up for a "spectacular" revamp of Southampton's ageing aviation museum.

A developer and bosses of the city's Solent Sky Museum went back to the drawing board after earlier plans were thrown out because they would have meant five protected trees were to be chopped down.

A linked application for a block of flats across the road, which would have financed the new museum, was also rejected over flooding risks.

Now the trees will be retained and developers plan to close and raise a 120m stretch of Albert Road South between the sites in case of a once in 200-year flood.

The latest proposals would see a replacement museum and offices housed in a six- story building containing 50 flats with 29 parking spaces for visitors and residents.

Space will be available for the 424 (City of Southampton) Squadron ATC which sub-lets part of the present museum.

A complex of 53 flats and four commercial units, up to seven stories high, would be built off Canute Road, with 18 car parking spaces.

The raised section of road will be landscaped and pedestrianised with a further 17 on-street spaces.

Squadron Leader Alan Jones, curator of Solent Sky, said a new museum was vital to win back visitors. Numbers have dropped from 40,000 to just 15,000 in recent years.

"We've been here 22 years on this site. The museum is getting tatty and needs refurbishment. We cannot do that on our own but we can do it in collaboration with a developer to create something staggering.

"It will turn out to be the finest aviation museum in the country if we do it properly. It will be spectacular."

He added: "If it's refused then I don't believe that the city is serious about its heritage."

Local residents have complained the plans are an overdevelopment and branded the design "hideous in scale, massing and appliance".

The City of Southampton Society said there is too little car parking.

Cabinet member for leisure and heritage John Hannides said: "It's our policy that we wish to see a new purpose built aviation museum. The application that's coming forward would be an option that would bring that about."

The plans will be considered by city councillors on Tuesday.