11:30am Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Peter Law
SOUTHAMPTON'S plans for a £15m heritage museum have today been given the green light.
Planning bosses at the City Council gave the thumbs up to the ambitious proposals, which will see the most radical redevelopment in the 78- year history of the Civic Centre.
It comes a day after conservation experts at English Heritage added their blessing to the scheme, which includes a new exhibition centre, a roof extension and a remodelled entrance.
Campaigners fighting the proposal have said it would spoil the original design of the Grade II-listed building.
But members of Southampton City Council's Planning and Rights of Way Panel this morning voted five to two in favour of the project.
Last month, the council ditched plans to sell two pieces of art from its overflowing collection to help pay for the Sea City Museum.
Southampton's financial chiefs are hoping to cover the funding shortfall by allowing Hampshire County Council to invest in its art collection.
Sea City Museum is set to open in April 2012 on the centenary of the Titanic's sinking.
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