Categories: Business NewsProperty & Construction

Plans to build 600 homes at Southampton's former Toys R Us site are given the go-ahead

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TBM Team

A large new housing development has been green lit in Southampton at the Western Esplanade.

At a meeting on Tuesday, civic chiefs were not unanimous, but agreed to rubber stamp the building of more than 600 homes where the now-disused Toys R Us building currently stands.

The proposals were put forward by London-based build-to-rent property developers Packaged Living. They'll see the former Toys R Us building demolished and four new blocks built in its place. The blocks are due to be made up of between seven to 25 storeys.

All apartments are to be rental only, with none available for residents to purchase.

A further application for outline planning permission was also lodged for the construction of more flexible accommodation on the site, such as serviced apartments.

Plans are also due to include a sizeable 65,000 sq. ft. development of office space, nearly 9,000 sq. ft. of retail space and just under 7,000 sq. ft. designated for flexible commercial use. 116 car parking spaces are to be created and divided up between residents and those working in the offices.

Mark Woodrow, representing Packaged Living at the meeting as the firm's MD, said the following about the development: "This could be something which really starts Southampton to compete with some of the other South East office markets. When you start to think of some of the major occupiers who are leaving London post-Covid… That will all be delivered in a sustainable way creating, potentially, up to 800 jobs within the building.”

The plans were approved by a majority of four councillors to three.

Councillor Joshua Payne backed the plans, telling the panel: “I actually think this is quite an exciting development in the city. These homes are for graduates.”

Others were less supportive of the scheme, however. The Southern Daily Echo report Councillor Sarah Vaughan saying this about the plans: “The city is in need of housing, there’s no doubt about it. These apartments are on the tiny side. There’s no affordable housing. I feel that the design and everything else had been done very expensively. However a lot of the other things have been rushed.”

The relatively small size of apartments and lack of affordable housing provision means that the project isn't exactly perfect. Those points aside, this has to be seen as good news for the economy and overall health of Southampton.

As Councillor Vaughan says, the city needs more housing and 603 new flats will go some way to helping address that need. Here's just hoping future developments include larger apartments and an affordable housing provision of some kind.

TBM Team