NEIGHBOURS have said a plan to convert a listed building into apartments would cause irreversible change to one of the city's most historic streets.

The plan would see a three-storey listed building in Edgar Street converted from offices into five apartments.

The former office building sits in front of the historic Edgar Tower and is a stone's throw from Worcester Cathedral.

Several objections have already been raised by neighbours in Edgar Street saying the flats would be "out-of-keeping" and were concerned by the lack of car parking in the "overcrowded street" and feared more litter would attract rats and gulls.

One objection said five apartments was "overdevelopment" and the plan would "irrevocably" change the character of one of the city's most historic streets.

The plans will be sensitive as almost a hundred listed buildings sit within 250 metres of the building in Edgar Street.

Developer Worcester Properties has already carried out several office-to-apartment conversions in listed buildings throughout the city centre including in Pierpoint Street and has recently gained planning permission for a plan to convert a listed building in Shaw Street.

The developer said the plans to build apartments will future-proof the building as office space in the city centre is becoming less popular.

Concerns have been also raised that providing only two parking spaces for five apartments would put strain on the residents' parking scheme.

Another resident in Edgar Street said "jamming" five flats into a listed building could increase the risk of fire.

Other residents said parking was already difficult in the "hugely overstretched road" - with some forced to park in Diglis - and matters would be made worse with the possibility of 14 more people living throughout the five flats, as well as visitors.

A statement provided by Worcester Properties alongside the application said: "The plan will bring a viable use to the building providing a use that is sustainable in the long term and support city centre living that is also a highly sustainable form of development close to employment opportunities, train station, buses and services.

"The proposal has been positively shaped looking at recent and historic developments of other similar listed buildings in Worcester which have been and are still successful in their new use."

Consultation ends on August 17. Comments can be made via Worcester City Council's website. The application number is 20/00431/FUL.