10:58am Monday 6th September 2010
By Andrew Napier
WINCHESTER civic chiefs are preparing for imminent and crucial news to the future of the Silver Hill redevelopment.
A new developer for the £100 million revamp of the Friarsgate-Broadway area, stretching from Eastgate Street to Middle Brook Street, could be announced within the next few weeks, said city council chief executive Simon Eden.
The administrator of the collapsed Thornfield Properties is in advanced negotiations with a developer to take on the re-development.
Mr Eden said he understood the would-be developer was undertaking ‘due diligence’ enquiries.
He said the city council remained committed to the development of homes, shops, offices, a new bus station that would re-energise a moribund part of the city centre.
“We have reassured them there is strong cross-party support for the compulsory purchase.”
CPOs would be needed to bring all the land within the development into one ownership to allow the scheme to go-ahead.
Meanwhile Mike Capocci the former director of Thornfield denied to the Hampshire Chronicle that he had any involvement in rescuing the scheme.
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