A COMMERCIAL property company behind a major planning application for a business park say they hope to attract firms that had been interested in moving to the delayed Station Approach scheme in Winchester.

Cavendish & Gloucester is planning to build on a five-acre site at Chilcomb Park near the city.

According to C&G they have talked to firms that wanted to move to Station Approach, including Denplan currently based in Hyde.

However the Denplan boss Stephen Gates denied his firm was interested in the site next to the M3 near Bar End.

Chilcomb Park will have two new three-storey buildings which will be used as offices and there will also be parking, including basement and underground parking and an energy centre.

An outline planning application has been submitted to the South Downs National Park Authority.

A statement by C&G said: "Our revised application is now before the county council who have been sitting on it for a number of weeks due to holidays etc and a revised travel plan.

"We are hopeful that this matter has been overcome and we look forward to receiving our full planning in the very near future.

"Already we have very serious interest in the smaller of the two buildings proposed and with the debacle over the Station Approach site, we hope we may be able to accommodate one or both of the parties concerned."

But Mr Gates, managing director of Denplan, said: "I can only talk from a Denplan perspective and I can say that there are no active discussions going on whatsoever.

"We have a lease on our building that runs until 2021, we remain committed to staying in the city of Winchester, if there are people interested in Chilcomb Park which there are many, Denplan is not one of them.

"We have a radar out over all sorts of property but there is no active discussion as far as I am aware at all."

Cllr Steve Miller, city council portfolio holder for estates and local economy, welcomed the Chilcomb Park scheme.

Cllr Miller said: "It would be good to have employment opportunities in the Winchester area."

Support was also expressed by city councillor Ian Tait: "I think it is a great location and the building is stunning. I praise Cavendish & Gloucester for being forward looking and meeting the demand for high quality office space in Winchester."

Lambert Smith and Hampton surveyor Andy Hodgkinson did not reveal the details of the firms who have expressed an interest.

Mr Hodgkinson said: "We are talking in great detail to companies based within Hampshire looking at Chilcomb Park.

"We have been having dialogue with companies for a number of years but as the market has improved. but with a shortage of supply in Winchester and the Solent in general and Chilcomb Park has come to the fore."

It was previously understood that one of the future occupants will be SWAG Jewellery Company, whose head office is based in Alresford.

The firm operate a number of retail outlets under the Pandora brand and employs nearly 440 people in full and part time jobs.

It is understood they will take up the southern building on the site.

Planning permission for a similar development at Chilcomb Park was agreed in 2009, the permission was extended in 2011, originally the scheme was set to have more research and development-based businesses but the plan has changed to make it solely office based, due to market demand, other changes include a basement under the southern block and an area of underground parking.

However the overall layout and design is the same as the approved scheme.