MULTI-million-pound plans to build a healthy living complex in Southampton's inner city will be discussed at a meeting tonight.

Proposals to build a £4.5 million centre on the old Co-op store site in Charlotte Place are now progressing after the scheme won support from health chiefs.

Members of Southampton Regeneration Partnership will be told that the complex could contain:

* A main sports hall

* A health and fitness suite

* A dance studio and activity room

* A creche

* Provision for physiotherapy

* A health information service

* A dental service

* An access to communication service

A report to tonight's meeting of the Community Development Ass-ociation Board states that a building brief will soon be compiled and developers will be invited to submit expressions of interest.

Part of the development could also include a five- or six-storey block of flats that will not need regeneration funding.

The city council will contribute to the scheme by selling off St Mary's Sports Hall and pouring the money into the new sports and health venue.

The report stated: "Leisure Connections plc, a leisure services operator, has agreed to work at risk to prepare a feasibility study for the health and sports facility element of the project.

"They produced some initial concepts in September 2000 and are currently working on fresh proposals."

Good progress is currently being made to take the plans from the drawing-board and a step closer to reality.

The report added: "One of the problems which has caused uncertainty is the degree of commitment from the health authority towards the project."

It also said: "The chief executive of the authority has now confirmed their full support for the project and a commitment to the running costs of the project once built."