A £150m city development caught in years of protests and legal battles could be underway by the end of the year, according to its developer.

Work on Winchester's Silver Hill scheme could start within months if civic chiefs accept the controversial plans are financially viable, TH Real Estate has said.

Winchester City Council is legally obliged to decide whether the developer, formerly known as Henderson, will make enough money on the project of shops and homes.

"We would expect to be on site in some shape or form by the end of the year," a TH Real Estate spokesman told the Daily Echo.

But the parties disagree over what evidence has been submitted to prove its viability, according to council boss Stephen Godfrey.

"We have indicated to our partners that their submissions needed further clarification," he said.

Monday marked the expiry of a 'long-stop agreement' between the parties, meaning either can walk away provided they have fulfilled their side of the bargain.

Daily Echo:

An artist's impression of the scheme

It has sparked fresh calls to abandon TH Real Estate from anti-Silver Hill campaigner Kim Gottlieb, who says their plans will wreck the city centre.

“It’s at critical status," the rebel city councillor told the Daily Echo.

"The council needs to make a bold decision. Nobody likes the 2009 scheme – even Henderson themselves have said it’s not their preferred scheme, so why should we let it just happen because we haven’t got the wit and the originality to think it through a bit more carefully?

He added: “We’re not shy of resorting to further legal action but I very much hope sense will prevail and people realise they have the ability and power to do things without this legal nonsense.”