One of Winchester's city centre car parks could soon be sold for housing.

A Winchester City Council transport meeting heard this week that St Peter's car park, off Gordon Road, will be reviewed as a development site.

The decision is part of a move to encourage drivers to use park and ride parks on the edge of the city and free up space in the city for homes.

The car park, which costs £4.80 for a day's parking, is in a prime city centre spot, close to North Walls and within five minutes' walk of Winchester High Street.

It was initially bought from Hampshire County Council to be used as temporary parking while the Brooks Centre was being built. The intention was to sell it once there was enough parking space elsewhere.

On Tuesday, permission was given to carry out a £10,000 development study on the 186-car space land.

Director of development services, Steve Bee, said the move was part of a bigger scheme to revamp Winchester's parking alongside the proposed Friarsgate-Broadway development.

"We want to give the developers the opportunity to come up with whatever proposals they have to provide car parking within their scheme.

"That's tied up with St Peter's. As a temporary car park, we will be looking to find alternative uses for it once park and ride happens."