A PLAN to build a garden roof terrace as part of a ‘new venue’ at a former city restaurant has been given the green light.

The roof terrace will be built at the former Primo restaurant in Worcester as part of work to create a ‘new food and drink venue offering al fresco dining and unique Cathedral views’ at the Sidbury site.

Worcester City Council’s planning committee backed the plans at a meeting at the Guildhall on Thursday (February 24).

Following approval from the council, the roof terrace can now be extended from around 12 square metres to 111 square metres but with an 11pm curfew and a ban on music being played outside.

The former restaurant has been empty for around two-and-a-half years.

Philip Rawle, agent for Burgoyne Property Investments, said the desire for a roof terrace and bigger garden space had been hardened by the Covid pandemic.

“Outdoor space is now more of an attractive offering,” he said. “There are views that you can take advantage of … and there’s an opportunity there for a roof terrace coupled with the existing garden space that will give that al fresco ‘feel’ which is very unique for the city.”

Several neighbours had complained about the proposal saying that allowing the extended roof terrace to be built would lead to more noise and a loss of privacy.

Residents in neighbouring Amber Wharf said the bigger roof terrace would “exacerbate” noise and privacy problems and that changes to the former restaurant’s alcohol licence approved in 2017, meant the planning application from 2014 should be looked at in a new light.

Planning officers at the council had said the work would not “unreasonably” add to noise in what was a busy city centre junction – largely due to a proposed new wall which is hoped will cut down on noise and overlooking.

The city council approved work in 2014 which would see a new side extension built at the former restaurant on the corner of Sidbury and City Walls Road in Worcester – the work for which has partly already been carried out.

The work also includes creating a larger garden by getting rid of staff car parking spaces and relocating a toilet block.