PLANS to breath new life into a former shipbuilding site in Southampton are to come under scrutiny.

As previously reported, the former Vosper Thornycroft site in Woolston was set to host a company that manufactures wind turbine blades.

But Oceanic Estates (Woolston) Ltd has put a new planning application forward asking city bosses to allow any manufacturing company to occupy the site.

The proposals are now set to be discussed by the Planning and Rights of Way Panel at a meeting tonight.

An official document published by the city council reads: “The extant permission gave approval for a restricted 24 hour manufacturing operation. At the time planning permission was given the applicant had hoped that they would secure a company that manufactures wind turbine blades. This occupier is no longer interested and the restriction on the permission - that any subsequent occupied must be involved in either blade manufacturing or marine-related employment requiring the deep berth - limits interest in the empty building.”

The new application which will be scrutinised by councillors tonight is now seeking permission for the site to be used for any form of manufacturing, without requiring access to the deep berth.

Some residents and local councillors raised concerns over the proposals and their impact on noise and the environment.Planning bosses said noise mitigation measures would be agreed before the site is occupied and “ it is considered that the issues of transport, neighbour impact and environmental issues can be satisfactorily addressed once an occupier is known”.

In an official document they added: “The site has been extensively marketed for marine related employment uses, without success, and a different approach should now be considered..”