Leisure World demolition plan is given the green light

Plans to demolish the vacant Leisure World entertainment complex in Southampton have been approved amid fears the buildings are unsafe.

Associated British Ports (ABP) has been given the go-ahead to flatten the site on West Quay Road after warning that squatters had left it in a dangerous condition.

As reported in the Daily Echo, a huge £250m plan to transform the site has stalled amid fears the scheme is no longer viable.

Two years ago Sovereign Centros was given outline permission to build 650 homes, two 150-room hotels, and a cinema, with work due to start in early 2023.

City councillors were told the landmark development would create 1,000 jobs, but no firm progress has been made.

Associated British Ports has been given the go-ahead to demolish the former Leisure World complex in Southampton (Image: Newsquest.)

Earlier this year ABP submitted plans to use the land for port-related parking and vehicle storage for up to five years. It also applied for consent to bulldoze most of the buildings.

Now, the demolition plan has been given the green light by the city council.

ABP's application said: "The Leisure World building is at end of life and requires a constant security detail to protect the public from entering the derelict interior.

"Due to squatters previously camping onsite, the interior has been left in an unsafe condition."

A CGI of the proposed redevelopment of the former Leisure World site. The scheme is said to have stalled (Image: Macgregor Smith/Corstorphine+Wright)

A supporting statement added: "The proposed development comprises the demolition of the former cinema and nightclub and the making good of the site boundary using fencing.

"The existing casino and pub buildings will not be demolished as part of this application.

"Demolition is intended to commence in the second quarter of 2024, subject to the appointment of a specialist contractor.

"The activities are estimated to take in the order of around three months. Following demolition, the site will be levelled to match surrounding ground levels.

"Permission for further use of the site will be subject to planning permission from Southampton City Council."

The proposals submitted by Sovereign Centros were given outline consent in 2022.

In February last year, ABP was granted temporary planning permission to use the Leisure World car park after revealing that the scheme had stalled.

Its application to demolish the buildings has been granted under a process known as "prior approval".

A council report said: "Prior approval gives the council 28 days to determine whether the submitted details are sufficient to allow the demolition works to proceed.

"A method statement has been provided and consultees have raised no objections to the details provided. As such, it is considered that prior approval is agreed."

Leisure World opened in 1997 and was a major part of the city's entertainment scene for many years. The cinema closed in 2022.