Member Article

£150 million Winchester development scheme faces community backlash

Plans for a £150 million regeneration of Silver Hill in Winchester has faced backlash from the public due to fears it “will ruin the character of this wonderful and historic city for evermore.”

Winchester residents and Cllr Kim Gottlieb have joined forces to start a campaign to combat the development scheme which has been in the pipeline for ten years.

The council’s redesigned plans will be considered in November. The changes include a reduction in homes, from 287 to 184 and the removal of a proposed bus station.

Retail space will also be increased from 95,000 sq ft (8,830 sq metres) to 148,000 sq ft (13,700 sq m).

Cllr Robert Humby, the Leader of Winchester City Council, said: “There are many myths about the Silver Hill scheme. I urge everyone who is interested in this major development for our city to visit the exhibition and see the latest plans.”

Cllr Gottlieb, who works as a chartered surveyor, said: “The scheme in front of us is dismal. When I described it as a blancmange, that’s me being polite – it’s a lot worse than that and the real problem is because it’s so large and so central, what happens on this site will define the character of the city for many decades to come.”

To find out more about the campaign, visit Gottleib’s website: www.winchesterdeservesbetter.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .