CRITICAL meetings on the future of the Silver Hill development begin today as growing numbers of residents urge the Government to apply the brakes.

The controversial regeneration is set to go ahead for good this week if city chiefs agree that the developer, TH Real Estate, has met three remaining conditions on the £150 million deal.

Some opponents within the council privately concede that TH Real Estate’s submissions, including the contentious claim that it is financially viable, are likely to be approved.

But Cllr Kim Gottlieb, the leading critic, has warned he will pursue “every legal avenue” against development even if councillors back it on Wednesday.

The crucial meetings begin with Cabinet this afternoon.

An online petition urging Greg Clark, the local government secretary, to take the scheme out of Guildhall hands reached 3,000 signatures in three days last week.

The petition, organised by Save Britain’s Heritage in association with Cllr Gottlieb’s Winchester Deserves Better campaign, warns the development would “destroy the historic character” of Winchester.

Councillors were briefed last week by Knight Frank and Deloitte, the consultants hired to assess TH Real Estate’s controversial viability claims. To pursue the scheme the developer must prove it will make at least 10 per cent profit – something they denied as recently as January, defending revised proposals in the High Court.

Members are under strict orders to keep private reports and presentations – including details of the developer’s viability assessment – within the Guildhall. Officers have warned that any public disclosures will breach the development agreement.

Meanwhile, officers are taking legal advice on whether TH Real Estate met a key construction deadline which, if missed, would give councillors additional grounds to terminate the development agreement.

The developer was obliged to begin “material” work on-site by June 1. The developer argues this was done when it installed drainage and a manhole cover.

Cabinet will discuss the developer’s submissions this afternoon at 2pm, followed by overview and scrutiny committee at 6.30pm. Discussions are expected to continue behind closed doors after the pubic sessions.

However, the key decision is made on Wednesday evening, where full council will effectively determine whether to accept the submissions.

The Liberal Democrats, who won a motion last month to keep termination on the table, are hoping to change the plans. However, the report to council indicates this is currently unlikely.