PLANS to build housing for the elderly on a Winchester city centre car park will be presented next week.

The city council says there is growing need for such accommodation with a 25 per cent increase in the number of people aged 85 since 2001, and the Chesil Street open-air car park has been pinpointed as the preferred site.

On Monday, September 15, from 3pm until 8pm, the pre-planning exhibition will be open in the Wintonian Room at The Guildhall.

It will detail the proposed design for the Extra Care Scheme, as well as the opportunity to speak to the architect.

The proposal has been controversial with Chesil Street residents unhappy at the loss of parking yards from their doors.

The council says they can use the nearby Chesil multi-storey, which is currently under-used.