THE redevelopment of a chunk of Winchester city centre has been dealt a blow by the preservation campaigners.

The City of Winchester Trust has criticised the £100 million plans by Thornfield Properties for the Silver Hill area.

Thornfield wants to build a mixture of 282 homes, shops, offices, bus station, medical and leisure facilities in the revamp of the currently rundown area between the Broadway and Friarsgate.

But after months of discussions with the developer, the City of Winchester Trust has formally objected to the scheme.

Trust chairman Pat Edwards said the scheme is simply too large for the site. "It would be an over-development and some of the buildings would encroach too much on the surrounding spaces."

Mrs Edwards said in many ways the scheme was admirable, bringing life back to the area and recreating the historic street pattern lost in the early 20th century.

The scheme is proving increasingly controversial with national newspaper coverage of fears that the six-storey blocks in a modernist style would dominate the historic city centre.

Mrs Edwards is urging the city council to reconsider the planning brief to remove some of its demands.

"The requirements seem to be the root cause of many of our concerns, because it appears to demand too much of the site. The impression is trying to get a quart into a pint pot."

She said considering nearby Cossack Lane for a medical centre would ease the pressure on space.

The scheme will see the demolition of well-known features such as the 19th century antiques market, post office, Sainsbury's and Friarsgate multi-storey car park.

The trust is also concerned about the removal of trees from Middle Brook Street and Friarsgate.

Overall the trust has six objections to the scheme. They are: the planning brief; height, scale and mass; layout; use of materials; landscaping and Tanner Street environment.