WINCHESTER civic chiefs are promising wider consultation with the public over major development in the city centre.

The city council has been talking to landowners in the Carfax and Cattle Market area near the railway station with a view to drawing up plans for new offices.

A report to the council on Wednesday says a wider public consultation will run alongside consultation with “key stakeholders”.

The council has set aside £2.6m for land acquisition from the county council and is proposing to set aside £29m for the Carfax development and £10m for the Cattle Market.

This would be a fraction of the value of both schemes.