THE lack of action over plans to build flats on the site of a former nightclub has left a “big gaping hole” in St John’s leaving residents and traders frustrated.

A move to finally replace the Zig Zag nightclub in St John’s, Worcester, with new shops and flats was given the green light in February – more than 25 years after the venue closed its doors.

But with the eyesore building now demolished, nothing else has happened leaving a “big gaping hole” in the middle of St John’s according to local councillor Sue Smith.

Cllr Smith said the lack of action had left the land in St John’s “unsightly, ugly and derelict” and suggested the council looked at using compulsory purchase powers.

“It’s taking far too long,” she said at a full council meeting in the Guildhall on Tuesday (September 26).

“Traders and residents have been very patient, but patience must come to an end. The condition is having a serious and detrimental impact on the economic opportunities in St John’s.”

Cllr Karen Lewing, chair of the city council’s planning committee, who described the empty plot as a “blight” on St John’s said she would be asking for legal advice on tearing up the planning permission if work did not start in the next few months.

“I understand the council’s officers have been trying to work with the owners since 2013 to ensure it is kept secure and tidy, with some degrees of success,” she said. “I share your concerns the site is still vacant and hasn’t been redeveloped into much-needed housing.

Cllr Lewing said the city council had powers to make sure the site was kept tidy but would need the Secretary of State to ‘remove’ planning permission if the agreed work was not completed in a “reasonable time.”

A fresh plan by developer Peter Styles to build shops, flats and terraced homes on the site of the former nightclub was backed again by the city council’s planning committee in February.

The building was demolished in 2021 and was expected to be replaced by shops and new apartments but the plans were redrawn late last year.

The council’s planning committee gave the green light to Mr Styles to build a four-storey apartment block in 2019.

A different flats plan for Ziz Zags was approved in 2016 with the hope that it would bring an end to the eyesore building.

But there was no progress at the club despite a condition in the planning decision saying that work should begin within two years.

The city council said yes to a plan for the apartments after coming to a final agreement with the developer Peter Styles in early 2019.

The plan was hit by further delays with demolition halted after Mr Styles was said to have decided to sell the building, but he then returned with a new application.

The nightclub closed in 1998 and was hit by fire in August 2007 causing more damage to the building.