THE transformation of Winchester city centre will begin in three months if the Silver Hill scheme survives a looming High Court battle.

Diggers will move in this April if Winchester City Council wins a judicial review of its decision to allow controversial changes to the landmark development.

Work will start with the erection of 10 flats on the site of the old Friarsgate medical practice, which moved to Weeke in 2011.

Development director Martin Perry said Henderson will build the homes “as quickly as possible” alongside demolition and archaeological work and plans to have them on the market in January 2016.

The remaining blocks of shops, homes and parking will be built throughout the next two years, with new homes going up for sale as each section is finished and all but a few shops opening in April 2017.

A new doctors’ surgery will open on the corner of Friarsgate and Upper Brook Street in the same month, replacing St Clement’s Surgery in Tanner Street.

The £165 million project is set to be completed in Easter 2018 with the opening of the final retail block in Silver Hill itself.