BOSSES behind controversial plans to rebuild parts of Winchester are eyeing up another chunk of real estate.

Henderson Global Investors, the developer of a £165m scheme to rebuild a quarter of central Winchester, is considering a bid for the city’s struggling Brooks shopping centre.

The indoor complex, next to the contentious Silver Hill site, is set to be sold after owners London & Henley went into administration last month.

Martin Perry, Henderson’s development director, said: “There are tenants trading in shops and places in the Silver Hill site whose businesses close as a result [of Silver Hill].

“There’s an opportunity for them to move into other premises – there isn’t any premises other than The Brooks.”

Many small independent traders, including tenants in the Kings Walk antiques market, are also set to be displaced but said that they could not afford the rent in The Brooks.

Denise Stewart, manager of Gallery Cafe in Kings Walk, pays £20,000 a year in rent and business rates, less than a quarter of what she might pay in the High Street.

She said that using The Brooks to house small retailers was “very important” and called on the new owner to cut rents.

“I probably won’t be able to afford it,” she added. “There isn’t anywhere else. We don’t know where we’re going to go.”

Controversial changes to the Silver Hill scheme were approved by civic chiefs last month and are unlikely to be affected by any move for the neighbouring shopping centre.

Henderson’s interest could be scuppered if administrators KPMG sell The Brooks as part of a package of assets managed by the De Stefano Property Group, London & Henley’s parent company, which collapsed last month.