A NEW gateway for Winchester.

That is how the designers who aim to transform a historic part of Winchester High Street describe their proposed plans.

Scott Whitby Studio are aiming to revamp St Maurice’s Covert, the covered passageway which links the High Street with the Wessex Hotel and the public toilets at Market Lane.

At a presentation to councillors at Winchester Town Forum last Wednesday, Alex Scott-Whitby and Cherng-Min Teong unveiled designs and computer images of the plan.

They said they want the covert to have a clean floor which is sand glassed, create new lighting and provide a better link between the High Street and the Cathedral.

Alex Scott-Whitby said: “The key element we are looking at here is to clean the floor, sand and clean the surface of the covert.

“We believe if you clean the stone there’s a fantastic sand stone there already.”

He added: “There’s a shared surface that links the High Street to the Cathedral, we want to create a new gateway to Winchester.”

Mr Scott-Whitby then talked about changing use of the space and screening the unsightly bins which are often criticised and “declutter” the area He also spoke of plans to open up the St Maurice’s church tower, the only surviving part of the church, and introducing a new wall to display some of the history of Winchester in the covert.

Current bike provision at the space may have to be decreased, but he reiterated a desire to keep the well-known flower seller in the area and charity stalls which are often set up.

Over the summer months Scott Whitby Studio have gathered information to help shape their proposals.

This included interviews with people in the city centre, studying CCTV footage of pedestrian patterns and inviting council officers and other stakeholders to contribute their professional opinions, and researching the history of the site of this former church.

They have also conducted some practical tests to see whether improvements can be made, an example of which was moving the flower stall to the centre of the Covert and filling the space with a pop-up coffee shop.

Practical tests have included moving the flower stall to the centre of the Covert and filling the vacated space with a pop-up coffee shop.