First the Spinnaker - now there's another red and white tower plan

One of the city’s tallest tower blocks could change from grey concrete to the iconic red and white stripes if planning is approved in a meeting tonight.

This plan has divided two parts of the city council, however, with the housing team putting forward the idea and the planning department objecting.

The 15-storey block overlooks Saint’s St Mary’s stadium and housing chiefs have confirmed that it will be repainted as part of a project that would also improve the wall insulation, replace windows and re-clad the exterior.

Warwick Payne, council housing chief, has confirmed that 35 out of 47 residents are in favour of the scheme.

He said: ‘The reason why red and white was put forward as a colour scheme is that Albion Towers is adjacent to St Mary’s and therefore the idea is to have the Albion Towers coloured in a similar colour scheme to Southampton Football Club’s colours.’

In July last year Portsmouth saw more than 5,000 sign a petition to council leader Donna Jones to stop the Pompey tower being branded in their rivals colours.

The petition was launched by Portsmouth FC fan, Alex Judd, who claimed that Portsmouth is proud city with football at the core of its heritage.

He said that by the Portsmouth City Council allowing Emirates to paint the tower in the rival city’s colours it will go against the loyal values of the city.

Since then, plans were changed and the Spinnaker tower has now been branded in blue and gold - reflecting the city’s home colours instead.

If the Southampton plans are approved, work could start in May and should be completed by March next year.