A DEVELOPER has agreed to buy Winchester Fire Station, as long as it can get planning permission to build homes there.

Bargate Homes will put a £10m proposal for flats and affordable housing on the North Walls site to the council within the next six months.

Company bosses would not say how many homes were planned but it will be the biggest new redevelopment scheme in the city centre for several years.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is building a new station on Easton Lane, Winnall which it plans to open in March 2011.

The new station is set to cost £4 million and construction is due to start on March 8. Its building is not dependent on the sale of the North Walls site, as funds have been set aside for some time.