RESIDENTS got their first glimpse of how a £10 million student housing block could usher visitors through the "gateway to Winchester".

Early plans went on show last weekend for a five-and-six storey development for up to 280 Winchester University students next to the city's railway station.

Developer Osborne hopes to build up to 60 flats on the former Hunt's Foodservice warehouse off Andover Road.

City councillors are lobbying developer Osborne to turn a run-down strip of land next to the Hunt's site into a footpath to the station overpass.

Cllr Liz Hutchison said: "At present it's derelict, dirty and absolutely foul. This is a wonderful opportunity, but it's important we get it right. Personally, I think it's the gateway to Winchester and so it needs to be designed from both front and back.

"People groan about Woking and they groan about Basingstoke, and we want to show people that Winchester is rather special."

Around 50 people attended the exhibition at St Paul's Church on Friday and Saturday. Davis Sarson, Osborne's development director, said the plans would change after initial feedback, with a possible cut in capacity to 250 students. Concerns were raised about the development's height.

Osborne says the project and would house second and third year students, keeping as many freshers as possible on campus and easing pressure on city estates. Tensions have risen in neighbourhoods like Stanmore as housing shortages push more scholars into renting privately.

But one of Winchester's top businessmen has expressed concern at the prime commercial site being used for housing.

Stephen Gates, managing director of Denplan and chairman of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce's Winchester area committee, said: "When we submitted a response to the city council consultation on their Local Plan, which was done last year, one of the issues that we raised was the lack of available space for business, be that business growth, business expansion or new businesses.

"We have a general concern about the allocation of space in the city to housing versus business. We understand there's a need for balance for both and we know that Winchester is a popular city to live in, and with a growing student population there's going to be more demand. But where are the replacement options that we can have in Winchester?"

Civic chiefs hope major proposals to redevelop the wider Station Approach area will provide much-needed office space.

Winchester University backs the proposals. Deputy vice chancellor Neil Marriott said: "The proposed scheme is well located, less than a mile from our King Alfred Campus and West Downs as well as being close to the city centre and the main railway access to the city.

"There are benefits to collectively housing undergraduate students in accommodation managed by the University. Additionally, students housed here would be under the supervision of a robust operational management plan to ensure good neighbourliness."

Osborne is working on an outline planning application to Winchester City Council and hopes to launch the site in September 2018.