More than £2 million in Levelling Up cash could be used to create new public spaces around the Scala theatre.

The city council has today revealed a list of cultural projects that could benefit from £5m of Levelling Up funding announced by the Government in March.

Worcester City Council managing director David Blake said the leaders and deputy leaders of all four political parties represented on the council had been involved in putting the list together.

Proposals include a plan to open up two mezzanine floors at the Corn Exchange in Angel Street.

The Grade II listed building is set to become a theatre cafe under plans approved by councillors last month.

But ideas around bringing the mezzanine levels back into use had been put on the back-burner due to the costs involved - until now.

The Levelling Up funding means £1.6m has been earmarked to create a space that can host events, exhibitions and “next level” catering facilities.

The council is also considering spending £233,000 on creating a “welcoming social space for young people” in Angel Place, with new outdoor furniture, planting and lighting.

Some £350,000 could be spent on buying 6 Angel Place and using the building as office and storage space for the Scala.

The council says this would create additional co-working space for artistic companies to use.

Elsewhere in the city, £200,000 could be spent on additional internal cladding at the refurbished arches in Cherry Tree Walk to secure the future of the businesses based there.

A mobile music vehicle that would travel to schools, events and venues in Worcester could be bought for £65,000.

£22,000 could be spent on a portable outdoor stage to support community festivals in the city.

And £40,000 could be given to help convert the upper floor of the Comer Gardens Institute into a community space that can be used by a dancing school.

City councillors supported a £140,000 plan to fund the project last month, leaving volunteers at the community hall to raise some £28,000 themselves.