Councillors have approved the demolition of a landmark building in Winchester city centre.

The derelict Friarsgate Medical Centre will be replaced by an open space as a 'meanwhile use', as part of the larger Central Winchester Regeneration scheme.

Winchester City Council's planning committee unanimously agreed the proposal yesterday. The building has been empty since 2014.

There were calls for housing to be built on the site. Former city councillor Ian Tait, now a planning consultant, spoke in objection. He said: “I object to this in the strongest possible terms. This is an utter disgrace, Winchester residents want action.

“I have vigorously argued that this part of the CWR scheme could be brought forward, which would mean there would be no need for a meanwhile use.

“It deserves a landmark building. Please refuse this and demand that a scheme comes forward for housing on the site.”

Richard Baker, from the City of Winchester Trust, said: “The proposed interim use could exist for many years.

“The trust questions whether the effort and investment in this interim proposal in this location is going to be worthwhile. Now that a development partner has been selected by the council, all effort and money should now be directed to securing an agreed, final adopted regeneration scheme.”

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Winchester City Council's project manager, Stewart Pegum, said that the meanwhile use would be for between 18 months and two years. 

He said: “The existing building is really not suitable for regeneration. It's in a very poor state. We have been through very extensive design work to create a public interim space.”

The committee was pleased that the work to demolish the building would improve the area.

Cllr Brian Laming said: “This appears to be a very worthwhile exercise. This has been a blot on the city for a number of years.”

The committee's chairman Cllr Jane Rutter said: “I'd like to congratulate officers on a worthwhile report. I will be very pleased to see the back of those buildings and the regeneration of this area.”

Cllr Michael Read proposed that the committee have a site visit before a decision was made. However, it was voted down.

During the debate, Cllr Read said: “The structure of the building is in a poor state of repair. We can now start some archaeology. We're not too sure what is down there. We might be in for a nice surprise.”

The committee unanimously agreed the proposal. 

After the meeting Cllr Martin Tod, city council leader, said: "This is another move forward in sorting out the run-down parts of central Winchester alongside working with local people to develop plans for the redevelopment of the entire site. I'm particularly pleased that we can use this opportunity to do further archaeological work and give people the chance to learn about more about this part of the city while the longer-term plans for the site are worked on."

It is expected that demolition will take place in early autumn, with an archaeological partner appointed and a programme of work formed over the coming weeks and months.