Plan for 16 student flats in Worcester city centre backed

The planning application would see the disused floors above Workforce Recruitment and Training in Foregate Street converted into student apartments.

A number of repairs to the late Victorian building, which sits between estate agents CJ Hole and late-night takeaway Jaqk's Chicken and opposite Foregate Street train station, would also be made.

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Most of the building had also been left unused for a number of years and was unable to attract a developer to continue using the space as offices.

Each student apartment would include an en-suite bathroom alongside a communal kitchen and dining area on the second floor.

The building sits within the Foregate Street and Tything conservation area and the plan by Worcestershire-based Kinsford Property Ltd would also require listed building consent from Worcester City Council.

The developer said it had removed a room from its original plan to create a more comfortable space for residents.

Workforce Recruitment and Training would continue trading on the ground floor and no changes would be made to the office.

Minor changes are planned to the front of the listed building, which has been well-preserved.

Repairs to the building's leaky roof would also be made and much of the building work would be carried out to the large rear extension.

The floors above the recruitment agency have been vacant and undeveloped for almost 20 years.

A similar plan to build eight apartments in the top three floors of Jenkins House in Foregate Street was approved last year.