A £15 MILLON plan to build new homes on green space surrounding the high-rise flats on a Winchester estate has taken a step forward.

The city council has approved to go ahead with a public consultation and seek a contractor to build 75 homes on land at Winnall Flats.

Of those proposed 72 would be one-bedroom flats and are said to “help address the shortage of these kinds of accommodation in Winchester”, with a further three houses.

The plan would see green space around the existing flats removed to make way for the development.

Cllr Kelsie Learney, cabinet member for housing and asset management, said: “Residents have been consulted and kept informed of the council plans in particular we have been keen to deal with issues connected to parking and their obvious concerns about the impact of having a significant number more housing units on site will have as well as how we can manage that going forward.

“Clearly we will need to do more consultation.”

It is proposed that the authority will work with Pocket Living who specialise in affordable homes for local first-time buyers.

Cllr Learney continued: “We will be building the flats to the highest practical environmental standards. In addition, the three houses we are proposing there is the potential opportunity to look at innovative methods of building low carbon housing.

“This is an exciting development.”

And Cllr Hugh Lumby agreed, saying: “This was a proposal that started with the previous administration, I am delighted that it has been bought forward, I think it is a great scheme. I think the increased provision for accommodation for younger people and those making their first move onto the housing ladder is also excellent and we need to be doing more of that.”

The current idea would see the existing road diverted around Craddock House. The new buildings would not be as high as the current high-rises and there would be new landscaping south of Craddock House and the new building and car parts would have green roofs.

It says it realises that parking is a problem, with estate workers clogging the roads during the day. It has done a survey to understand how the area is being used.

The council has a target of 1,000 homes by 2028, recently increasing it from 600.

A full business case for the proposal is expected to be brought back to cabinet in 2021.