A FRESH attempt at regenerating a major Winchester scheme was approved by council chiefs despite concerns over the city's need for more office space.

Councillors approved a report on the controversial Station Approach regeneration at cabinet.

The decision means a Station Approach cabinet committee will be created and that The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) will manage the appointment of an architect.

There will also be a different design approach which will be evolved with client and advisory panels as well as public engagement.

Last year the scheme was stopped in its track when councillors voted against an architect which won a design competition.

As previously reported by the Chronicle, council leader Caroline Horrill said there would be a more “flexible” approach to prevent a recurrence of the defeat of the scheme.

Cllr Horrill said: “Our vision for Winchester sees residents able to find good jobs locally and enjoying modern leisure facilities that are important for health and happiness.

“So these latest reports to cabinet represent next steps in major projects and they are crucial to delivering the ambitious vision for Winchester we have outlined in our Council Strategy.

“We want to be an economically-vibrant county town that embraces its heritage and welcomes visitors. I believe this approach will serve our residents, our businesses and promote employment diversity while promoting the long-term success of public and private sectors in the district.”

At the cabinet meeting she added that the design company that the council have asked to come forward must have a breadth of individuals in their team to ensure flexibility within the project and that they are asking for some concept designs for the Carfax site.

The project brief sets out a list of deliverables including the provision of Grade-A office space.

Chief executive of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce Stewart Dunn said he was concerned about lack of commercial space in Winchester.

"Winchester has a unique opportunity here to provide much-needed, high-quality offices in the centre of the city," he said.

Michael Carden of City of Winchester Trust said: " It is not that we are against high quality office development in the station area. Our concern is it may exceed what is compatible with Winchester. It is in everyone's interest that the project should not go off the rails again."

Judith Martin, also of the Trust, said the process was all about regaining public confidence.

"I don't think that there is genuinely that demand for Grade A office space in Winchester. Most newly-created jobs are self-employed. It would be terrific to have lots more employment here, but we don't want empty buildings, especially empty grade A towers."

Concerns were also raised that there was not enough evidence to support the claim that the city needed more office space.

Liberal Democrat leader Lucille Thompson said: "We are pleased to see that there will be a dedicated cabinet sub-committee. There are still a number of concerns remaining.

"The evidence provided in the paper refers to studies in 2016, but no figures are attached to the report. Without figures to back these assumptions, how can we tell what is fact and what is hear say?"

Councillor Rose Burns said: " I am very concerned that the business case does not have hard facts and figures that we need before we embark on this course.

"We need to realise the best return on that space and it may be that we don't develop quite as many offices as we think, and houses instead."