CIVIC chiefs are asking residents to have their say on redevelopment plans at two events due to take place this month.

Winchester City Council will take feedback on its Station Approach plans, which aim to regenerate the area around the city’s train station.

The events, which will be held at the Old Winchester Registry Office on Station Hill, will provide an update on the scheme ahead of the a planning application which is due to be submitted in early March.

Representatives from the architects, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, as well as council officers, will be available to answer questions and give further detail on the scheme which, civic chiefs say, is expected to bring £81m to the local economy.

The events will take place on Saturday, February 23 between 12.30pm and 3pm, and Tuesday, February 26 between 5pm and 8pm.

In addition, an exhibition will be held at the Winchester Discovery Centre from February 21-28.

Following the submission of the planning application, the next step for the major city centre scheme will be when its outline business case is debated by the city council’s overview and scrutiny committee – due to take place on Wednesday, March 20.

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As previously reported, consultants were brought in to assess the economic benefit of the scheme and found Winchester would significantly benefit from the introduction of the proposed Grade A office space at the Carfax site, based opposite the station.

They also estimated the creation of around 1,000 jobs in the city centre, with a further 400 indirect jobs, a significant number of shorter-term construction employment opportunities, and a financial boost from the supply chain in the local area.

The city council says other social benefits include offering Winchester residents the chance to work in the city, improving work-life balances and reducing commuting.

However, the scheme has not had complete support. In October, John Hearn a senior member of the City of Winchester Trust told councillors the plans would result in “dead street frontage” and more traffic problems for the city centre.

John Hearn, who was speaking of behalf of the City of Winchester Trust, added “the latest proposals are unacceptable”.

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The scheme marks the second incarnation of the Station Approach project after initial plans collapsed in 2016.

Announcing this month’s consultation events, Cllr Steve Miller, chairman of the Station Approach committee, said: “We are really looking forward to talking to our residents about the exciting plans for the Station Approach area, to listen to their views and to share the next steps with them.

“Our team of architects will be available to talk through any worries or concerns and the information we collect will help us to deliver this major project for the benefit of all.”