WINCHESTER housing bosses are poised to today confirm they want to build on a city centre car park.

The Chesil Street open-air car park has been pinpointed as the site for a housing scheme for the elderly.

The city council says there is a growing need for such accommodation with a 25 per cent increase in the number of people aged over 85 since 2001.

But residents and businesses in Chesil Street say the car park is one of the most popular in the city.

The council argues that there is spare capacity in the nearby Chesil multi-storey car park.

The Cabinet housing committee was meeting this morning to consider a report recommending the chief housing officer be authorised to put in a planning application.