DOZENS of developers are eyeing premium Winchester real estate.

Several companies have shown interest in replacing Hampshire Police’s headquarters in Romsey Road with housing.

The force wants to sell its current headquarters in Winchester and move into Mottisfont Court, a smaller building in Tower Street, bought for £1.5m.

It is being marketed by Fareham-based estate agents Lambert Smith Hampton, who have asked developers to formally declare interest by September 6.

Outline planning consent for 294 flats, access and parking was granted in 2007 and then extended in 2010, but Graham Holland, LSH head of office, said police were happy to listen to other schemes, such as mixed housing.

He said: “If somebody comes along and says we will pay you ‘x’ or ‘y’ for the development if we can get planning permission for a different scheme then they would listen.

“What’s most important is delivery. There is plenty of time as it will take a while for police to move out. It’s a big important site and everybody, not just police but also the local community, wants it to be the right development.”

Mr Holland said no shortlist would be drawn up until after September 6 and that several factors would be considered.

He said: “We want the people who are most likely to complete this. What we will be looking for is the right idea for the development, we want to know their track record and we want confirmation they have the money to buy it.”

A city council planning list sparked confusion last Friday when an application was listed from Bewley Homes to alter outline permission and provide 128 homes.

It was later confirmed as a mistake and the application was removed from the list by Monday (July 8), while the developer denied involvement.

Stephen Trenwith, land director at Bewley, said: “We have not put any application in. All we have done so far is request a conversation about the development. I’m not sure how that got onto any list but I imagine it must have been a mistake.”

Police are expected to leave the building by the end of 2014.

The development is part of a wider police plan to save £4m of taxpayers' money per year by sharing central services like finance and procurement with Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.