Civic chiefs are set to discuss the next stages in the archaeology of the Silver Hill site.

Officially called the Central Winchester Regeneration, the city council is looking to undertake a revamp of the land between the Friarsgate and The Broadway. 

Proposals for the area incorporate Winchester bus station, Kings Walk, the old Friarsgate Medical Centre and Coitbury House.

The cabinet regeneration committee will meet on Tuesday February 7, to discuss the latest plan for the archaeological investigations of the site.

Winchester City Council is aiming for the archaeology work to start in June, when four trenches will be dug across the site. This will enable the archaeological team to gain further understanding of the site.

Hampshire Chronicle:

In the report to cabinet, it said: “Archaeology is an important aspect of the site and the heritage of Winchester. The council recognises that archaeology and the historic environment can be a key driver in building community identity and creating a sense of place, as well as enhancing the visitor experience. The council is therefore committed to ensuring that a robust programme for dealing with significant archaeological remains is followed as the redevelopment of the site is progressed.

READ MORE: Letter - Winchester city council should keep control of Silver Hill archaeology

“One of the four proposed trench locations (Trench 1) is inside the car park next to Coitbury House, and sits adjacent to both the Coitbury House building and the St Clements Doctors Surgery. The council will ensure affected parties are engaged and mitigation plans for any disturbance are carried out. 

“Bus operators currently use one of the four proposed trench locations (Trench 2) for bus layover. This sits outside the area which is currently leased to Stagecoach. The locations of the remaining trenches (Trench 3 and 4) sit within close proximity to the bus depot building which is currently occupied by Stagecoach. Council officers have engaged Stagecoach and they are looking at alternative options for layover when this area of this site is no longer available for the buses to use. The council will ensure Stagecoach remain engaged and any further disruption is mitigated.

“This proposal for early stage archaeological evaluation (trial trenching) is a next step to understand more about the archaeology - date, character, state of preservation and significance within the CWR area, address some of the key related issues and subsequently help inform and guide proposals for the development and allied archaeological mitigation strategies including further excavation, as the redevelopment moves forwards.”

The cabinet regeneration committee will meet on Tuesday February 7 at 10am, in the Walton Suite at Winchester Guildhall.