AN APARTMENT complex is to be built on the site of Southampton's old head post office in High Street.

Planning permission has been granted for Linden Homes to build 75 one and two-bedroom apartments on the site, almost all having their own allocated off-road parking space.

Linden is the prime developer in the area for this type of development, with popular projects at Victoria Quay, Ocean Village, Linden Grange at Southampton Common, Test Mill at Romsey, numerous apartments in Archers Road - and Goldsmith's Court next door on the corner of Briton Street and the High Street.

The new flats will be of a similar standard to those in Archers Road, and will rise up to six storeys.

Linden says it plans to refurbish the exterior fabric of the post office building, restoring the Victorian High Street facade to its former beauty. The High Street buildings will be offered for sale for retail, leisure and commercial use.

Other historic features, like the black ventilation cowls on the sorting office roofs, will be used in the landscaping scheme for the development.

Currently hiding in the basement of the post office is a Second World War-vintage air-handling unit that was used in an air-raid shelter. Linden will contribute to the cost of dismantling and re-assembling it for public display.

Managing director Pat Feighery said: "With our local roots we are, of course, very pleased to be involved in rejuvenating the city centre. We will use our experience and technical know-how to ensure we preserve the character of the area, while providing very desirable new homes that will attract new life there.''

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