Council leaders have vowed to share details of plans for Southampton’s former Toys R Us site with residents as soon as possible.
Cabinet members have approved a confidential updated business plan from the joint venture set up to speed up redevelopment of the key city centre site.
Southampton City Council has teamed up with the University of Southampton and Aviva Capital Partners to create WBS Growth Partnership LLP, which is backed by £15 million to support land acquisition, master‑planning and ongoing operating costs.
While work continues behind the scenes on full long-term redevelopment proposals, specialist consultants are advising on interim uses for the 4.6-acre site.
Speaking at cabinet on Tuesday, July 14, Labour council leader Sarah Bogle said: “It’s a really important site for the city. I understand how much interest there is and we want to make sure that people know about the next developments as soon as we can.
“I’m sure further information will be coming out about the next stages, which are probably going to be around what happens to the site in short term first as ideas and options are worked up.”
WBS Growth Partnership was set up in December and secured a 250-year development lease for the Harbour Parade plot, while the council retains the freehold.
The updated business plan has not been released publicly, with the local authority citing commercial sensitivities.
Initial site clearance has already taken place ahead of the demolition of the Toys R Us building, which has been empty since the retailer’s collapse in 2018 except for a short spell when it stored donations for Ukrainian refugees.
The car park is currently in use, with income retained by the partnership to reinvest in the project.
Any money generated from interim uses on the site would also be ploughed back into the wider redevelopment work.
When the joint venture was formed, the partners said they were targeting a new mixed‑use neighbourhood focused on innovation, enterprise and education, with offices and residential.
The updated business plan will also need the approval of University of Southampton and Aviva Capital Partners Limited.
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