Winchester Silver Hill: Council vote backs development

The city centre redevelopment will include homes, shops and public spaces

A multimillion-pound redevelopment project in Winchester is to go-ahead.

The £150m scheme in Silver Hill includes a new bus station, medical centre, shops and about 200 homes.

The plans were agreed at a full council meeting on Wednesday night, which ran into the early hours after more than six hours of debate.

There were 38 votes to six in favour of the scheme after Winchester City Council agreed the developer had met the conditions in its contract.

An artist's impression shows part of the proposed building designs at Friarsgate

The authority has been looking at developing the area, which it describes as a "run down and ugly", since the late 1990s.

Opponents to the plans claim the area's historical character will be destroyed.

Resident Penny Stewart said: "It's such an important decision for Winchester, I feel the council are tied and have very little option.

"It could be so beautiful and in-keeping. I know something has to be done but people will look back on this and think, how did it happen?"