A MUCH-CRITICISED plan to build a care home in the city rejected for being “ugly and depressing” has been put forward again.

Worcester City Council’s planning committee turned down an application to demolish the former Harvester restaurant in Droitwich Road and replace it with a 78-bed care home in July.

The design of the proposed care home drew much criticism from councillors who called it “ugly and depressing” and “lacking imagination.”

The care home provider MACC Care was told to go back to the drawing board by councillors and the application has now been put forward again cutting the number of beds from 78 to 76.

New drawings show a courtyard and garden on the proposed care home site as well as private ‘patio-style’ gardens on the ground floor and balconies on other floors.

At the meeting in July, planning committee vice chair Cllr Pat Agar compared the care home to a “barracks for warehousing people” and criticised the developer for not including enough green space for more than 50 residents.

The care home plan was also criticised for providing an “inadequate” amount of outside space for residents to enjoy.

Cllr Owen Cleary said it would be sad to see a beautiful old building demolished for an “ugly and depressing” care home and Cllr Jenny Barnes, who also voted against the plan, said the care home looked “very cramped” and was worried there would be “no escape” for residents.

Ahead of the meeting, planning officers at Worcester City Council had recommended the plan was given the green light saying it was “well-designed” and “utilised the site’s full potential.”

A controversial plan to build a McDonald’s drive-thru on the site was eventually withdrawn in November 2019 after facing a wave of opposition from residents.

Hundreds of people spoke out against the plan saying a new McDonald’s should not be built near a school and would attract more litter and anti-social behaviour.

Residents can have their say on the new application by visiting the planning section of Worcester City Council’s website.

The application number is 22/01078/FUL and the consultation ends on January 13.