A PLAN to convert the ground floor of a city centre building into more student flats after failing to attract retailers has been put forward.

The conversion of White Lodge in Farrier Street, next to the Cheshire Cheese entry, would see an extra 15 student flats built pushing the total up to 25.

The plan was first discussed more than two years ago when plans to convert the first floor were backed by Worcester City Council.

The plan to convert the first floor of the outdated building into 10 student flats and build a two-storey side extension was approved by in March 2017 and has now been finished.

The ground floor would have been converted into space for shops under the original plan but little interest was shown by retailers.

The owner of the building had looked at several different options to convert the ground floor – including a gym, car park and a restaurant or pub – all of which failed to gather interest, according to a planning statement accompanying the application.

No car parking spaces would be included with the new plan due to its city centre location of the proposed flats and its closeness to the University of Worcester and Worcester Foregate Street.

The existing student flats fall under an house of multiple occupation (HMO) licence which the new flats would be added to.

The latest plan is one of several already approved for flats and student accommodation in Farrier Street and Foregate Street in the last 18 months.

A plan to convert three empty floors of the ‘dated’ city centre building Jenkins House in Foregate Street into eight apartments has moved a step closer was submitted in April with a decision yet to be made.

Three floors of a grade II-listed building opposite Worcester Foregate Street will also be brought back into use by building 16 student flats after plans were approved earlier in November.

A plan to build 38 “millennial” flats in the grade II-listed Citation House, also in Foregate Street, was backed last August.