‘Bitterne Hub’ plans ‘will not be proceeding’

By Maria Zaccaro, Local Democracy Reporter

bitterne precinct 23 6 21 general shot 600px P1020218Multimillion-pound plans for the so-called ‘Bitterne Hub’ development, approved in February by the previous Labour administration, have been scrapped.

 

 

The previously announced £30m plans for a leisure centre, a library and health services at Bitterne precinct will not go ahead, it has been confirmed.

New proposals for the area are being drawn up and could be unveiled next spring, but what will be included is not yet known.

Current city leaders said they remain committed to investing in the area but will look at what can be done for “less cost”.

Labour opposition leaders said they were “deeply disappointed” and feel that the east of the city is being “let down”.

bitterne precinct 23 6 21 general shot 600px P1020218

The scheme was reviewed by the newly elected Conservative administration after Labour lost control of Southampton City Council in May.

 

Dan Fitzhenr SCC

Council leader Cllr Daniel Fitzhenry (Con), pictured left, has now confirmed that the £30m plans previously announced will not go-ahead.

“Labour’s £30m Bitterne Hub scheme will not be proceeding but we are looking at what we can do for significantly less cost and ensure we meet the needs of local residents accordingly,” he said.

“We believe we can get much better outcome for much less investment and use that money to focus on other significant priorities such as repairing roads and pavements and investing in Mayflower Park.”

He stressed that the council remains committed to investing in the area and making improvements.

When asked how much money the authority is planning to invest, Cllr Fitzhenry said: “We don’t have a figure because we are working out what’s needed. We are at design stage. Once we have got a plan we will go out to consult with people.”

bitterne precinct 23 6 21 two shoppers GP 600px

sarah bogleCllr Sarah Bogle (Lab), shadow cabinet member for planning, pictured right, said the £30m scheme should be considered on its merits.

She said: “We feel that the administration is letting down the east of the city. We are deeply disappointed that they are not taking these plans forward. I think they should re-look at the plans.”

She said that the east of the city needs investment.

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said the previous plans were “so complex that they were unlikely to be delivered”.

“The council concluded that with a re-think more can be achieved with less. I of course want to see investment in Bitterne but not if that excludes other worthy projects across my constituency and the city.”

Previously
Green light for ‘community hub’ in Bitterne
Plans to transform city under review following Tory election success


ldrs logo 200px This article is from the Local Democracy Reporting Service or Shared Data Unit. Some alterations and additions may have been made by our site, which is a partner in the BBC's Local News Partnerships scheme. LDRS journalists are funded by the BBC to cover local authorities and other public service organisations, and content is shared with all partners.


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