Southampton: Plans for Leisure World site stall - port owners

The Leisure World site, off West Quay Road, opened in 1997

Plans for a multimillion-pound redevelopment on the site of a former cinema complex have "stalled", port owners say.

A £250m project including a cinema, a casino, 650 homes and two hotels had been approved for the Leisure World site in Southampton.

Work was due to begin in early 2023, but the city's port owners said they had now "stepped in".

Developer Sovereign Centros has not responded to a BBC request for comment.

The freehold of the land is owned by Southampton City Council, which approved the developer's plans in 2021.

An artist's impression of the planned Leisure World redevelopment off West Quay Road

However, Associated British Ports (ABP) said the site had now been "closed for some time".

A spokesperson said: "Plans for the site to be redeveloped have stalled.

"Whilst we are working alongside others on these extensive long-term plans, we have applied to demolish the redundant buildings on the site and continue to utilise the site for car parking in the short term as an interim measure."

Built in stages, it was expected to take up to eight years to finish, with the first stage completed by 2024-25.

More than 1,000 jobs were also due to be created as part of the scheme.

The site has been used for parking since its closure

Leisure World first opened in 1997 and was home to an Odeon cinema, a casino, restaurants and various nightlife establishments over the years.

It is unknown whether Odeon planned to reopen in the new development, but the company previously said it had been negotiating with the developers and landlord.

ABP said it was working with Southampton City Council and other stakeholders on the "long-term vision" for the city waterfront.

The city council has been approached for comment.

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