Civic chiefs are a step closer to announcing the development partner for a major revamp of the city centre.

Winchester City Council's scrutiny committee dissected a report on the chosen developer for Central Winchester Regeneration (CWR) on February 27.

The city council in 2021 relaunched its redevelopment of Central Winchester, centred on Silver Hill and has been seeking a developer.

The previous scheme fell apart in 2016 following a legal challenge by Kim Gottlieb.

The meeting was held in the large King Charles Suite at the Guildhall as significant public attendance was expected. However, there were no public speakers and only a few people attended the meeting in person.

The committee heard that 13 potential development partners registered an interest in the scheme, with a shortlist of three chosen.

A partner has now been selected, and will be revealed to the public ten days after the cabinet meeting on March 6.

The winning developer, referred to as Bidder E, scored a total of 82.29 per cent in the selection process.

READ MORE: Key decision looming for new Silver Hill scheme

Cllr Martin Tod, leader of the council, said: “We live and work in a special city, but a section of the city doesn't really work. It's a sea of concrete. This gives us the opportunity to develop the city further. We have reached a really exciting point in the process.

“The scheme will live or die on the quality of the partner we have chosen. It's vital we get it right and make it happen.”

Veryan Lyons, head of programme for CWR, said: “We are looking to find the right partner to work with us to provide a great scheme.”

Members of the committee went through the report in detail. 

Cllr Stephen Godfrey asked about the risk involved. In the report, it said: “The council’s Risk Management Strategy sets out a risk appetite of moderate, but acting in a partnership to bring forward the CWR development, presents a greater risk to the council, not only in terms of delivery, but financial and reputational risk. It is acknowledged that the risk profile of the CWR project is higher than moderate, but by proceeding with the project, the wider economic and social benefits identified in the Development Partner Business Case will be positive for the city and wider district.”

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Mrs Lyons said: “For the benefits, the decision for cabinet will be if the risk is worth taking. We visited a lot of sites the development partner had developed in the past.”

Cllr Caroline Horrill said: “This is hugely important for setting the scene on how we do business in this partnership, but there are commitments we're making. We have a duty as councillors to be clear about how we approach that.”

In the report, it said: “The first six months is a key milestone and once the agreed tasks have been completed, a clear timeline will have emerged and work to progress to the next milestone of submission of the planning application will commence."

A section of the meeting was held exempt from members of the public due to the confidential elements of the procurement process.

The report will now go to cabinet and will be decided at the meeting on March 6.