Focus · LA Today Wire
35 minutes ago Indy Almroth-Wright South of England Demolition work has started on the former Toys R Us store in Southampton. The 4.6-acre site on Harbour Parade, close to the Central railway station, has been derelict since Toys R Us collapsed in 2018, apart from being used temporarily to store donations for Ukraine in 2022 . The partial demolition is expected to take eight weeks, with the roof and sides being left in place for short-term temporary uses - the city council said possible ideas being explored included a padel court, event space and market.
Aviva Capital Partners, Southampton City Council and the University of Southampton have teamed up to take on the site and plan to redevelop it into a mixed-use area with offices and homes. The 4.6-acre site close to Southampton Central railway station shut in 2018 Sarah Bogle, leader of the council, said: "This has been a site that did have previous planning permission with a different developer but they sat on the site and didn't actually do anything - and we're having to start again. "We recognise this has been very frustrating for everyone in the city.
Partial demolition has now started, ready for some meanwhile use and going forward, hopefully a viable scheme. "In the coming months, people can expect to see a much tidied up site with a structure left that can be used." The site is within the wider West Bay regeneration area and one of five set to be regenerated in the city. More on this story Related internet links
Source: BBC
