THE stalled £100m revamp of Winchester city centre has forced civic chiefs to scale down their spending.

The city council is proposing several cuts to its programme of major schemes during the next few years. The authority hopes to reverse the decision later on but that will depend on the progress of the Silver Hill Renaissance scheme Council leader Cllr George Beckett, said since parts of the Thornfield empire, the firm set to deliver the Silver Hill scheme, went into administration last month, the project has been on hold. As a result, the council cannot guarantee that the property it owns between The Broadway and Friarsgate will be bought, said Cllr Beckett.

A report to cabinet members said the council still plans to spend £57.5m on major schemes between now and 2014.

They include replacing the roof of the authority’s HQ in Colebrook Street and modernising River Park Leisure. Smaller schemes include £40,000 to provide a seating area outside the Casson Block in St George’s Street, Winchester.

However, around £5m of projects have been put on ice. The project aims to deliver new shops, around 270 homes and a new bus station.