WINCHESTER city councillors have voted to press on with a revised multi-million-pound scheme for the Station Approach area.

Civic chiefs approved proposals for the scheme that will take a new approach to the failed attempt earlier this year.

The revised plans will see the city council work with Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) to search for an architect. Once one has been chosen, they will work together to put together a design that will then go to public consultation.

This is a stark contrast to that of the previous scheme that saw a number of firms compete in a design competition – an idea that has since been strongly criticised.

Leader of the council Stephen Godfrey added that civic chiefs want to see a new design developed over the next 12 months.

Portfolio holders at the Cabinet meeting on October 19 voted through the proposals unanimously.

Cllr Caroline Horrill agreed that the council should push on with the plans.

“I think it is time to get on with this and put the project at the heart of the council’s business,” she said.

“We have to get on with this; let’s work together proactively and positively to give this forward motion and take action accordingly.”

One of the concerns made about the previous scheme was the inflexible design brief. However, interim managing director Steve Tilbury confirmed the new scheme has a very flexible brief meaning it can be changed if needed.

Michael Carden, vice chairman of the City of Winchester Trust, said: “We are pleased about the consultation with RIBA and it seems to be constructive.

“The proposals look very promising but we would like to have a meeting with the leader to check certain concerns.”

At a previous meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee on October 17, property expert Chris Higgins accused civic chiefs of “misleading” a design jury who voted in it.

Speaking at the meeting, he accused the city council of altering the decision made by the design jury who, he claims, voted for Scheme C (Design Engine from Winchester) and not Scheme B (Hopkins Architects from London) as announced earlier this year.

“I certainly believe the jury were misled,” claimed Mr Higgins. “In an email sent to the council by one of the jury members, they raised a number of issues with the competition which I am not happy about.”

However, corporate director Steve Tilbury slammed the claims. “For Mr Higgins to make comments about unprofessionalism within the council (and that it misled the jury) is completely unjust. I look forward to him substantiating these claims before the next committee meeting (on November 30) so I can investigate them fully.”

Furthermore, following his submission to speak at Cabinet, he was publicly refused to give his thoughts on the project by the council leader.

“Unless you have come to apologies I do not wish to have your contribution today,” said Cllr Godfrey, who was chairing of the meeting.

Mr Higgins then furiously stormed out.

Nevertheless, Cllr James Byrnes then backed his colleague. He added: “Public participation is allowed at the discretion of the chair. It is not automatic”