A CAMPAIGN to stop Winchester’s controversial Silver Hill scheme has been rejuvenated after the High Court reversed its decision to block a legal challenge against civic chiefs.

Winchester City Council will now face a judicial review of its decision to allow developer Henderson to propose dropping a bus station and affordable housing from its £165 million regeneration project.

The legal offensive was launched by Cllr Kim Gottlieb, leader of the Winchester Deserves Better campaign, who said the “absurd” scheme would wreck the city centre.

The U-turn came after a two-and-a-half hour hearing this morning. Mr Justice Lindblom ruled that there was an arguable case to be made that the council unlawfully allowed Henderson to propose the changes.

Cllr Gottlieb says the changes were so significant that the council should have put the scheme back out to tender, allowing other developers to bid for it.

The court previously ruled that the development agreement had allowed for alterations.

Cllr Gottlieb said: “To say we, the Winchester Deserves Better campaign, are pleased and relieved would be an understatement.

“I feel a little vindicated we’ve made better progress this time.”

He said the campaign team would “take stock of the situation” and prepare for the full hearing, which is expected to start in January.