WINCHESTER civic chiefs are close to tying up a deal to buy land from Tesco for a site of a new multi-million pound sports centre, Chronicle can reveal.

The city council is is advanced negotiations with the supermarket over the Garrison Ground off Bar End Road on the southern edge of the city.

Tesco has owned the land for more than 20 years and had planned to develop it for a supermarket before opting for Easton Lane, Winnall in the mid-1990s.

The company had ambitions to develop it for housing but have been rebuffed by city council planners.

Now the two parties are discussing a deal to sell the site for around £2.2 million, an informed source has told the Chronicle.

If the deal is completed it would allow the city council to build a new £29 million sports centre directly off Bar End Road instead of the current proposal to build on part of the King George V playing field, a play area and artificial pitch with a new road access through the former Bar End depot.

Council leader Stephen Godfrey declined to discuss the issue in detail but said: “I would rather not talk about it until we have a signature on the dotted line. We don’t want to lose the sale.

“It is a great opportunity for the city if we can wrap up the deal. Good progress has been made.”

The city council is considering a new leisure centre with the two options either to remain on the site of the 1970s centre at River Park or move to Bar End.

One option is to build a 50m pool The Chronicle reported last September that the council and Tesco supermarket were discussing the sale.

The council has held a public consultation with people living in the Highcliffe/Bar End area.

The Winchester Sport, Art and Leisure Trust is keen to safeguard the Garrison Ground for recreational use.