A HOUSING development planned for a run down area of Winchester is set to treble in size.

Developers Thornfield Properties had originally proposed about 100 homes to be built as part of the Broadway-Friarsgate scheme.

But that figure looks set to increase to 364 properties under new plans unveiled yesterday.

Civic chiefs have backed the move saying the hike in numbers was the only way to make the scheme profitable.

Winchester City Council leader Sheila Campbell said: "It comes down to economic viability. The numbers would not stack up any other way."

It is understood Thornfield had pressed for more houses during intensive negotiations over the last year after they were told some 35 per cent of the housing had to be affordable.

Managing director of Thornfield, Michael Capocci said that the economic downturn had forced the company to look again at the viability of the original project.

But not everyone is happy about the increase in the size of the plans.

A city councillor, who asked not to be named, said: "Some councillors are going to say, hang on, this 364 figure is nothing like the planning brief. What's going on."

The council and Thornfield want to regenerate a four-acre site in the city centre between the Friarsgate and Broadway, Middle Brook Street and Eastgate Street.

The scheme proposes about 40 shops including bars and restaurants; a minimum of 279 public parking spaces and 260 private spaces; a new civic square, a new bus station, a new riverside walk between Bucket Lane and Friarsgate.

However, a number of premises will have to be relocated to accommodate the scheme.

Consultations with the public would be ongoing, said Mr Capocci, with a planning application expected in the spring of 2005.

See tomorrow's Daily Echo for an indepth look at the ambitious £100m scheme to rejuvenate historic Winchester.