BOSSES behind plans to redevelop the former Fawley power station have revealed their vision for the site.

Artist's impressions released by Fawley Waterside Ltd show a Venice-style development with ornate buildings lining both sides of a canal running through the centre of the waterfront area.

Fawley Waterside says the £800m scheme will create "one of the most beautiful small towns in England".

The consortium has submitted plans to build a housing and commercial development which will provide 1,500 homes and 2,000 jobs. Proposals include a primary school and a health centre, plus leisure facilities.

The scheme also includes a multi-storey dry stack - described as an automated parking facility for up to 600 boats.

Many of the houses will be based on the most attractive buildings in other parts of the New Forest, including, Buckler's Hard, Exbury and Lymington.

Two of the six "landmark buildings" included in the scheme are a glass tower and an art deco-style hotel partly inspired by Southampton Civic Centre.

Fawley Waterside is holding talks with Hampshire County Council about improvements to the A326 to help it cope with extra traffic likely to be generated by the scheme and other developments in the Waterside area.

A passenger ferry service between Fawley and Southampton is also under discussion, along with the possible re-opening of the Totton to Fawley railway line.

Machinery is already being removed from the main building on the power state site - the huge turbine hall.

Fawley Waterside is planning to demolish the power station in a series of controlled explosions. The first is due to take place in August, when the turbine hall's roof will come crashing down.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the 650ft chimney dominating the entrance to Southampton Water is also going to be blown up.

Proposals to build a glass-fronted restaurant at the top of the huge stack were dropped after civic chiefs said the chimney was a blot on the landscape and should be removed.

Planning applications have been submitted to New Forest District Council and the New Forest National Park Authority.

Fawley Waterside is hoping the authorities will give their verdict on the proposals by the end of the year.

If the scheme is given the go-ahead the first homes will become available in 2023 and the whole project should be complete by 2036.

Aldred Drummond, chief executive of Fawley Waterside, said: "My ambition is to build a place with purpose, with homes, jobs and services all within walking distance.

"A real town, not a dormitory nor an exclusive enclave but a place where a wide variety of homes mix with commerce and inspiring workspaces."

The scheme coincides with plans to build thousands of new homes in the Waterside area, including Marchwood.

In a statement Fawley Waterside said: "A package of road improvements is proposed that will significantly increase the capacity of the A326.

"There is a parallel public transport strategy for buses, cycle paths and footpaths. Options for a fast ferry service, which could be linked to Hythe Ferry to safeguard that service, and the ambition to re-open the Fawley rail line to passengers, are being considered alongside the outline planning applications."