A PLAN to build flats next to a city centre garage was rejected by councillors.

Plans were drawn up to build a new ‘modern’ three-storey building opposite the Fownes Hotel in South Street in Worcester with two commercial units on the ground floor and four two-bed apartments.

It was refused by Worcester City Council’s planning committee.

Neighbouring car repairers Miller and Lloyd had raised concerns that building the new units and flats would be a “massive inconvenience” and ‘finish off’ the business.

Speaking to the city council’s planning committee at a meeting in the Guildhall on Thursday (June 23), Miller and Lloyd owner Robert Collis said he needed 24-hour access to the garage and building flats in the narrow one-way street would wreak havoc.

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Mr Collis said there was not enough room for another car let alone cyclists and pedestrians and many accidents had been caused by cars having to reverse onto the very busy and “highly dangerous” City Walls Road because there was nowhere to turn.

He added that much of the equipment used at the garage was “noisy, dusty and smelly” by nature and would be disruptive for any potential future residents and any construction traffic would be equally as problematic for his business.

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The council’s planning committee was in agreement that the plan should be rejected.

Cllr Pat Agar, who chaired the committee, said refusing the plan was a “no-brainer” and Cllr Andy Roberts called the application “poor.”

Cllr Karen Lewing said: “I think this is a very poor application.

“It is unfortunate that it is an isolated building, that has obviously got these problems with the elevations, the lack of ventilation and the potential for overheating with that much glazing and with residents not able to ventilate their flats properly.”

Worcestershire Regulatory Services had raised an objection to the plan saying the smell from paint spraying at the garage would “significantly” impact people living there and, if built, future complaints about odour could have a negative impact on the workshop.

Council planners had recommended the application should be rejected.