Concerns that flats above new Foregate Street bar would be too small

The listed building in Foregate Street, which was home to offices but has been empty for a number of years, could be converted into a new venue and nine flats.

But the move will be discussed by Worcester City Council’s planning committee at the request of joint council leader Cllr Lynn Denham over concerns that flats included in the plan were “very small with inadequate facilities.”

Just two of the nine flats would meet the minimum 39 square metres to meet national standards.

Nevertheless, planners at Worcester City Council have recommended the application should be approved when the planning committee meets.

The council’s officers said the failure to meet space standards would be overruled by the greater need for more housing in the city – even if it was smaller than it should be.

The previous ground floor home of Thursfields Solicitors, which relocated nearby to The Tything, would be turned into the new bar under the plans by Foregate Regeneration.

The design of the ground floor was altered after first being put forward in August with the proposals showing a new bar and outdoor seating – but was later adjusted to protect as much of the listed building as possible.

Worcester City Council approved a plan to turn the former office building facing Foregate Street into 13 flats as part of plans Nick Carroll-led developer Foregate Regeneration in March.

The council’s planning committee approved an application in November 2021 that allowed for a four-storey building for seven apartments to be built on the rear car park of the former offices. However, those plans were also later revised.

That redrawn plan, which would have seen a new three-storey building with six flats replacing a four-storey, seven-flat building, was rejected by planners for being too big.

The council eventually approved a plan to build four one-bed flats in a two-storey building.

The planning committee meets in the Guildhall from 3pm on October 19.