At a full council meeting on January 15, Councillor Stephen Godfrey, a Conservative, grilled Lib Dem leader Martin Tod over the “absence of any public indication” concerning the disused River Park Leisure Centre, which has stood empty for years.
The university bought the building, which is set to be demolished, three years ago.
Cllr Godfrey said: “It is now another six months through the five-year period agreed for the University of Southampton to develop and share their proposals for the River Park Leisure Centre site.
READ MORE: Uncertainty over date for demolition of River Park Leisure Centre
“It is also another six months since I last asked the leader about the absence of any public indication of these proposals. When does the portfolio holder expect a clear milestone plan to be published leading to the submission of a planning application?”
Cllr Tod explained that he met university representatives in October, and that he hoped some form of announcement would be made soon.
He said: “Based on that meeting, we had hoped to be making some announcements about the university’s investment plans and the plans for River Park fairly shortly, and we are continuing to work with the university for the earliest possible clarification of the way forward.”
Cllr Godfrey pressed the council leader: “Given that we’ve now less than two years before the end of this five-year period, this gives us very little time to see a planning application developed for that site,” he said.
“Do you think there’s a realistic opportunity for this development to come forward in that timescale?”
SEE ALSO: River Park Leisure Centre: Update on plans for derelict leisure centre
Cllr Tod replied: “Anything is possible. I am meeting officers in the next week or so to discuss options for how things proceed from here.”
Some local campaigners want the site to be retained as a public space, arguing the area was left to the city for public recreation.
It was last used about four years ago and has been replaced by the Sport and Leisure Park in Bar End.