PLANS to refurbish part of Winchester’s iconic High Street will go ahead.

Civic chiefs agreed for designs to be put forward that could see St Maurice’s Covert cleaned up as part of a new plan launched by Winchester Business Improvement District.

It comes as part of a wider focus to improve the city centre and will also include removing bulk waste bins from the walkway.

The idea is to implement specialist lighting that will be designed to signpost people towards the direction of the cathedral and to other areas of the city.

Alison Davidson, head of historic environment, said there were several constraints attached to the refurbishment which the council would have to adhere to.

“There are certain constraints not least some covenants,” she said. “It needs to be kept open. There are to be no commercial sales though charitable sale are acceptable. Those constraints give us certain limitations to what we can do.

“It’s a very unused route that people don’t know is there. We want to create footfall with a type of sign posting but without the clutter.”

Chairman Robert Hutchison said the council would also have to respect both Debenhams and the Flower Stall business which largely operate from the area.

He said: “There is an understandable friction there but it’s clearly a very good route for people to walk through. There is a range [of such places] which needs a bit of investment.”