PLANS for a multi-million-pound revamp of a popular Worcester shopping centre have been approved.

Crowngate shopping centre will be given a facelift including new floors and ceilings, replacement canopies and improvements to lighting.

Worcester City Council agreed to the £3.2m update for the 18-year-old centre after hearing the work would allow people to walk under cover from the High Street right through to Broad Street by extending the canopies.

The most noticeable change will be the transformation of Bull Entry, off High Street, beside HMV, with a glass roof and new shop fronts.

Extra lighting will be installed, particularly in the central area roundel, and the roof of Unicorn Walk will get green, solar glass to reduce the heat passing through and provide screening.

The paving will be replaced using a pattern that will be reflected in the ceilings and, as part of the refurbishment, some of the pillars made from reconstituted stone will be clad with a combination of glass and stainless steel.

York stone removed from the paving will be used to replace some bricks in the Deansway entrance and officers are in talks with the Highways Authority to reuse any stone that is removed to improve paving in Worcester city centre.

Councillors also asked officers to investigate the possibility of extra seating after Councillor Geoff Williams raised the issue.

He said: "There is an opportunity because there are very few places to sit as you walk through."

He suggested more seating could be introduced in the central area opposite Boots.

Concerns were also raised about the use of green glass rather than translucent.

Coun Bob Peachey said: "I'm concerned about us reducing, as a result of all this, the natural lighting through the site."

Coun Paul Denham said he welcomed the plan and added: "I think it's time to see it revamped."

Coun Andy Roberts said: "I think it's great the owners are willing to push on and improve what I think is a very good centre."