CIVIC chiefs have revealed the next steps for a major regeneration of the city centre through a new ‘delivery roadmap’.

It shows how construction on the Central Winchester Regeneration (CWR) project is planned to begin by the end of 2021.

The ‘roadmap’ marks the first timescale released for the project, also known as Silver Hill 2, by the city council, and covers the next four years, although it could change as the project progresses.

It focuses largely on the planning and funding phases of the scheme, although work is expected to get under way during that period on a number of aspects, first of which will be the relocation of the bus station.

A decision is expected by the end of this year on its new home, currently being linked with the Middle Brook Street car park.

Relocation work will then begin in the second half of 2020, with the redevelopment of the current station forecast to get under way in 2021.

Meanwhile, work is expected to start soon on improving the public realm near the Guildhall, starting in lower High Street this year, and finishing by King Alfred’s Statue in mid 2020.

Archaeological work is also expected to begin this year, and work to explore the potential new museum will continue until 2021.

The ‘roadmap’ follows a number of small-scale projects in the meantime, including turning the Antique Market into The Nutshell arts venue and opening The Bike Hub at Open House Deli in the old Post Office on Middle Brook Street.

City council leader Caroline Horrill said: “2018 was an exciting year for the project with many milestones reached, so to begin 2019 with a roadmap that reflects the progress that will be made over the next four years is very exciting.

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“We are already finalising proposals that will give us access to the specialist strategic, financial and legal advice we will need to progress the viability and delivery work over the coming years.

“We are keeping up the pace of progress but we are determined that all the preparation is done up-front to ensure that any plans we put forward can be delivered. What we won’t do is mislead people with designs that, at this early stage, may not be achievable.”

This all comes while councillors are seeking a new name for the CWR area, set to be chosen later this year.

As previously reported, a list of suggested names has been released by the council for residents to comment on before the CWR committee makes its final decision.

According to a poll on the Chronicle website using the list of names, Silver Hill has emerged as the favourite with 24% per cent of the vote, followed by Friarsgate on 18% and Alfred’s Gate on 11% (at the time of writing).

Cllr Horrill said: “We will take on board everyone’s views and then make a decision.”