KING Alfred's College in Winchester is selling off its student village to pay for the restoration of a listed building at its new campus.

Eager developers are poised to bid for the Chilbolton Court flats, off Sarum Road, which was put on the market by the college this month.

The sale by tender is being marketed as residential building land, or as a modern student campus of 127 flats.

As 3.24 acres of prime land, the sale will net the college several million pounds, although it is reluctant to discuss figures for commercial reasons.

The proceeds will go towards the £5 million restoration of the West Downs School site on Romsey Road. The school, a listed building, has been empty and disused since it closed in 1988. Its restoration is a key part of the college's development. The refurbishment will provide 68 student flats and teaching space.

The playing fields at West Downs were developed as a new student village in the mid-1990s.

A college spokesman said: "The sale of Chilbolton Court is the quid pro quo to offset the cost of developing West Downs."

The West Downs site has the potential for further expansion. The college already has planning permission for another 180 units which it could activate in the future.

Shoei College, the Japanese school at Chilbolton Court, was given the option by the college of moving to West Downs. But it has decided to stay, said the college spokesman.