THE development of Silver Hill 2 continues to take shape with a timetable of key dates set out to city councillors and scores of residents.

The future of the central Winchester area was under discussion once again, with possibilities including housing for young people and archaeological digs all on the cards.

An earlier £150m scheme collapsed early last year, but a new vision of a “mixed-use” quarter was unveiled in July following public consultation.

Now, JTP Architects are working towards a draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to be revealed on October 30.

JTP’s Marcus Adams told the meeting the document aimed to be “definitive enough that we get some certainty, what we really think those aspirations are, but flexible enough for creativity to come into it.”

As well as receiving a timetable, The Central Winchester Regeneration Informal Policy Group on Tuesday, September 25 heard about progress in areas including the movement strategy, parking, archaeology and housing.

Chairwoman of the IPG, leader Cllr Caroline Horrill, reiterated the council’s commitment to making Winchester’s centre a “pedestrian-friendly area”.

Speaking on the upcoming movement strategy for the city’s traffic, Hampshire County Council officer Frank Baxter said there would be an online survey, telephone survey and workshops.

Winchester City Council officer Andy Hickman said: “ We are encouraging people to park as far out as possible so the pricing is set to do that. We changed prices this year and that seems to have worked.

He added: “We are minded not to provide any multi-storey car parks to replace Friarsgate multi-storey car park, to leave it approximately the same size as it is now.”

The meeting also heard that delivery of the scheme was likely to be in incremental stages, could incorporate more than one architect, and that various sources of funding for the project were being explored, one of which could be sponsorship from the public.

Strategic housing manager Simon Maggs said that focus groups brought up providing housing for young entrepreneurs and those with care needs.

He added they found younger people were happy to share facilities and work spaces, but were “incredibly price sensitive”.

“It is important that any ambitions around those smaller homes doesn’t manifest itself as a race to the bottom,” he said.

An archaeological advisory panel has also been set up to establish possible sites to be explored and likely costs, chaired by professor Martin Biddle, who led major excavations in the city in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Cllr Horrill said: “We are grateful for the archaeologists who have come together to support us.We have asked them to be really precise as to what they think we should be doing.”

Ms Cooper, who has a shop at Kings Walk, asked what would be done for the shopkeepers in the transition building period and for someone to speak to the owners to find out what sort of premises they would like.

Cllr Horrill replied, “This is a fair comment, we need to support you. We are going to form a mini cabinet group to address this.”

The draft SPD will be considered by cabinet on December 6 for consultation between December and February.

The final version is due to be considered in the spring or summer of 2018.

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