THE regeneration of the gateway to Winchester is at risk of resembling an office block in Croydon, a property expert warned councillors.

Chris Higgins, of the City of Winchester Trust, told the Town Forum that that Station Approach project should feature arts facilities and have a wider scope.

The meeting on Tuesday night heard calls for a masterplan eclipsing the Cattlemarket and Carfax areas earmarked for development.

City chiefs are preparing a brief for architects ahead of a design competition. Specific demands like a concert hall are not included in the current draft.

Mr Higgins, former head of estates at Winchester University, said: "Winchester's what it is because we love it: the history, the heritage, the environment. We've got to do it well and we have to do it well with some cultural elements. Don't underestimate the importance of the cultural elements, whether it's a museum or a music centre, or whatever it might be.

"If you do it well it will be wonderful, if you do it badly, it will be a disaster.

"Please, not an office block that's better placed in Croydon."

Corporate director Steve Tilbury said arts spaces must be economically viable.

He added: "I'm sure Chris Higgins has read the brief, but I don't see anything about a Croydon office block. What I see is 'respect and take cues from the adjacent townscape,' which, unless it's moved to Croydon, is not what you get in the Station Approach area."

Addressing calls for a masterplan, Mr Tilbury said it was legitimate for the council to "set the agenda" for the area by focussing on its own land.