A MAJOR new flats development in one of the most sensitive and desirable areas of Southampton has been given the go-ahead.

Luxury flats will be built by Linden Homes on the land between the £295 million WestQuay shopping centre and the Grade II listed Portland Street frontage.

Permission was originally granted for the development on part of the former Daily Echo site in 1995 as part of the shopping centre development.

The imposing new building will have parking at the ground floor and then four floors of flats.

There will be a roof garden as well as a communal garden area on the first floor level complete with decking and exotic planting.

Alan Bhagwanani, who lives opposite the proposed development in Portland Street, complained the design was out of character and believed the new homes would bring more parking misery to the area.

He said: "Yes there is parking with this development but what about the people who visit residents. Where are they going to park?

"I was the first person to live in Portland Street again for years. At the time when I moved in they said they wouldn't allow any flats to be built but now look what is happening."

Planning officer Alan Sayle said he could understand concerns over parking but said the development met the council's standards.

"As for the design, it respects but does not try to mimic the Grade II listed buildings in Portland Street," he said. Conservative Councillor Alec Samuels said the design should reflect the regency character of the area.

"This design does not do that - it is really linked with WestQuay rather than Portland Street.

"It looks like an office block or a multi-storey car park. It is totally, totally out of character," he said.

The chairman of the development control panel, Councillor Sue Blatchford, used her casting vote to allow the development to proceed.

She said she was pleased Linden Homes had given their architects free reign when they came up with the concept for the building.

"This is a 21st century design. The Local Plan indicates that imitation of historical styles or features is unacceptable.

"If Portland Stone was used in this development it would devalue the Grade II listed buildings in Portland Street as well."