SEVERAL Worcester buildings branded "unsightly" in a city council report are being demolished to make way for 14 new homes.

The project is aimed at breathing new life into Diglis Road by replacing four old commercial buildings.

The Diglis area is already undergoing a huge transformation, with 421 new homes, a community centre, a gym, offices and a cafe being built off nearby Diglis Dock Road.

Seven new apartments and seven new family' homes will be built on the Diglis Road site now work has been approved.

Five of the homes will front on to the road, while the other two will front on to the canal towpath.

One large block is being created fronting the canal towpath to accommodate all seven two-bed apartments.

A central parking courtyard will be built with one parking space for each house or apartment.

The city council is still negotiating the number of affordable homes on the site, but has confirmed there are likely to be four.

Planning officer Alan Coleman said: "The site is actually in the local plan for 25 per cent of the units to be affordable housing - and our proposal was for four affordable units, three which can be rented and one shared ownership."

The city council planning committee agreed unanimously to approve the project, as long as the pavement at the front of Diglis Road is resurfaced.

Coun Allah Ditta, cabinet member for the environment, said: "With the shortage of homes in Worcester, any new project like this has to be welcomed. It will encourage more people to live in that area."

Only one of the units is occupied, by a firm called Clarity. It is not known where it will be moving to.

The development will be complete by the end of 2007.