A MAJOR multi-million pound Winchester scheme has been set back more than a year after councillors opposed the winners of a design competition.

But the plans for Station Approach scheme close to the railway station could still move ahead in the future.

Councillors derailed the scheme on Wednesday night by voting against the proposals of bidder B - believed to be Hopkins Architects from London.

Leader of Winchester City Council Stephen Godfrey warned the scheme not going ahead could cost hundreds of jobs in the city.

He said two firms in the city with nearly 500 employees had expressed interest in moving into the site and said they could now relocate from Winchester.

This now means the scheme is set back more than a year according to council leader Stephen Godfrey.

Making his case for the scheme to move ahead before the vote, he spoke of the business advantages and the need for office space in Winchester, he added that the council was hoping to secure a grant of £7.7m of local enterprise partnership (LEP) funding that was now unlikely.

He also argued that the plans could be changed, improvements can be made and designs improved upon.

Cllr Godfrey said: "If we start again not only will we put back a project by 12 to 16 months and the possibility if losing the LEP funding we would have no realm strategy we will have to start again and where will we get? - nowhere."

He added Denplan and Lane Clark & Peacock LLP could move away from the city if not given the space to expand by taking advantage of the scheme.

Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Tod launched a scathing attack on the process, he questioned why the full council meeting did not have the designs jury report which criticised the chosen bidder B with no marks being in the 'Good' range and called the scheme to be started again.