A WINCHESTER business chief has said the Silver Hill 2 retail plans are right for the city following criticism at a public meeting last week.

Catherine Turness, executive director of the Winchester Business Improvement District (BID), defended the scheme after a residents told councillors they should be supporting existing retail, rather than developing more units.

One person went so far as to say the city council was "presiding over the death of Winchester" at the update meeting over the Silver Hill 2 scheme, officially known as the Central Winchester Regeneration project.

Ms Turness said: "The national retail picture does indicate that it is a tough market but, as the city council states, the feedback for Central Winchester Regeneration points to a mixed-use development and the BID believes that is the right strategy.

"I personally disagree with the comment on not providing retail space within the plan as landlords have the monopoly over charging rents and this prices many businesses, especially independents, out of the market. More available units will drive competitive rents."

However, Ms Turness added: "I do agree that existing businesses need assistance in diversifying their model to ensure they survive in this tough climate. We will be shortly releasing a series of blogs, which have reviewed practices in a dozen independent businesses. We hope learning from fellow businesses, coupled with the launch of a £50,000 annual fund for independent BID businesses (a new initiative for the BID’s third term) will help protect those that currently contribute to ‘Winchesterness’."

As previously reported, Winchester's finance chief Guy Ashton defended the plans to regenerate part of Winchester city centre, arguing that the new retail space would only account for an extra three to four per cent when research had found demand of five to ten per cent.

Cllr Ashton said: "Winchester has a four per cent vacancy rate, the national average 15 per cent. Having an SPD that allows for flexibility is the way forward."

On Monday Cllr Ashton emailed the Chronicle to add: "Today I counted 327 shops in central Winchester. A mere 12 were empty. That’s 3.7 per cent, consistent with the city-wide four per cent vacancy rate calculated in 2016. Some churn is inevitable, but four per cent is pretty healthy and way below the national average.

"Some decry the street market and the presence of TK Maxx, Travelodge, Poundland and Primark, but they successfully offer options to the young and less affluent, as well as to those seeking something different or artisanal.

"As for blaming Winchester City Council for the supposed decline, its proposals for Silver Hill regeneration will only marginally increase retail space in the city. WCC does not control the retail sector’s costs; central government sets business rates and private landlords set rents.

"Shopping habits are changing; some towns, stores and chains are failing to adapt, but we should celebrate the dynamism of retailers in Winchester."

The Chronicle tried to contact Cllr Ashton to discuss the issues further, but had no response.