THE much-heralded regeneration of the old Royal Worcester Porcelain site can finally move forward after a row over rubbish was cleared up.

Work can now start on 34 apartments off Severn Street and Mill Street after it was delayed a month ago because of the dispute over waste collection.

The developer, Berkeley Homes, which will run a private waste collection service, originally wanted to provide bins half the size of Worcester City Council's.

The request was criticised by the council, with planners concerned it could lead to complaints and would mean less recycling.

But work can now start on three separate apartments blocks after the developers agreed to provide bins the same size as the council's.

One block will include 11 flats and a cafe, the second block will house 12 flats and a third will be made up of 11 townhouses.

As well as each home having bigger bins, people living in the townhouses will now have to walk only 25 metres (82ft) to a hard standing' area to place them for collection day rather than 50 metres (164ft), which had been planned.

The outcome has been hailed as a success for the council, which is fighting wants to ensure recycling in Worcester increases.

People living in the homes will be able to use 1,100 litre capacity bins from a private contractor.

Councillor Francis Lankester, cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, said: "In this modern world it isn't odd to ask a developer to build something around the refuse collection service.

"We wanted improvements and we've got it. We've also established a principle, which has to be a good thing."

Coun Paul Denham, deputy leader of the Labour group, said: "We are very pleased the developers have listened to our concerns.

"I wouldn't like any housing development in Worcester to be out of line with the rest of the city and this is an improvement on what we had before."

Mark Benzie from Berkeley Homes, said the collections would be weekly, rather than every fortnight.

The outline plan to revamp Worcester Royal Porcelain into a housing development was approved last June.

When finished by the end of 2009, it will feature 356 homes, a hotel, office space and a restaurant.

Detailed plans on the rest of the development are yet to come before the council.