PLANS for a multi-million-pound spin-off of a legendary dance club that was once at the heart of the Manchester club scene have been scrapped due to unexpected cost increases.

Plans to open the club in Southampton, which was expected to cost £1.45m, was the vision of Central Properties, formerly linked to world-renowned club Sankeys, famous for its underground music with venues in Ibiza, London, and Tokyo.

Company managing director Steven Turner and his team were planning to open a two-floor club in a location in the city and would offer a mix of underground, urban and house with a range of club nights each week to suit the student and weekend market with hopes to get a 3am licence.

Negotiations began for a number of sites in the city in Summer 2018, but the company have suddenly pulled the plug on the idea due to unexpected cost increases of putting the scheme together.

In A statement, Central Properties said: “It is with the greatest regret that we have had to withdraw plans for our proposed venue in Southampton.“The clubbing scene in Southampton is vibrant club scene in the city and had strong support in the #doyouwannasankeys campaign.

“However, due to a hike in the costing of the plans we have decided to withdraw the plans.”

“Creating jobs for local people and bringing a new type of club to the local economy so “We look forward to pursuing other schemes in the near future.”

The news comes after Cuban cocktail bar chain Revoluciòn de Cuba had plans approved to open a £1m three-floor bar on Above Bar Street in Southampton earlier this month at a cost of just over £1m.

Sankeys first opened its doors in Manchester as Sankeys Soap in June 1994 and then opened and closed a number of times before shutting for good in January of this year after the building was sold to become flats.

Club bosses then revealed relaunch plans for multiple sites across the UK, based on the #doyouwannasankeys campaign in February.

The campaign, in partnership with the Night-Time Industries Association, centred on 20 UK towns and cities and gave the public the chance to bring a Sankeys club to their area.