PLANS to replace Hampshire’s police headquarters with a lucrative housing estate will be revealed to the public this week.

The force’s Winchester base is set to be demolished and could make way for one of the city’s biggest new developments if proposals are approved.

Police chiefs have planned to leave the West Hill site, in Romsey Road, for almost a decade and came one step closer this summer after a sale was agreed with Berkeley Homes.

In 2007 city planners granted outline permission to demolish the 1960s block and replace it with 294 tightly-packed houses and flats.

But Berkeley, which fought off dozens of rivals to secure the site, said it wanted to build a “significantly reduced” number of homes.

In a leaflet posted to neighbours, it said: “Berkeley Homes has taken the opportunity to revisit the scheme to create a high quality development with a significantly reduced number of units more suited to the site and its surroundings.”

It would not confirm exactly how many houses it planned to build but it is believed that they will be larger and more expensive than the 294 units outlined in the approved application, which was renewed in 2010.

Developers were originally expected to make 40 per cent of the homes affordable and pay £730,000 towards roadworks, a playground, public space and a cycle path, but it is unclear whether civic chiefs will demand the same from the new project.

Hampshire Constabulary is selling off building stock across the county as it tries to impose £25 million in government cuts.

Last week the Chronicle revealed that North Walls station is set to close, while last month the force sold Alpha Park, its destitute Chandler’s Ford base, at a loss.

The West Hill force is set to move to Hampshire Fire and Rescue’s base in Leigh Road, Eastleigh, next autumn, while back office staff will move to Mottisfont Court, in Tower Street.

Berkeley Homes are inviting residents to view artist’s impressions and the site layout at two exhibitions this week.

The first takes place on November 13 in St Paul’s Church Hall, St Paul’s Hill, from 5-8pm.

On Saturday representatives from Berkeley, their architects and their planning consultants will answer residents’ questions from 12.30-2.30pm.