Winchester Silver Hill: Developer set to lose contract after delays

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

The developer behind a multimillion-pound redevelopment project is set to have its contract terminated by Winchester City Council after delays.

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

Council leader Stephen Godfrey said: "We're worried the developer is not able to take it forward."

The authority said TH Real Estate had until 9 February to meet conditions or its contract would be scrapped.

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

Martin Perry, development director at TH Real Estate, said: "We note the council's decision and will now be considering matters."

Planning permission for the scheme expires on February 2016 and the deadline for a compulsory purchase order is 19 March.

Mr Godfrey said: "We are very keen to see this run down part of Winchester developed properly.

"By end of March we will be coming forward with proposals to go a different way."

The plans were approved by the authority in July.

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