THE public has had their first chance to see what Worcester's new secondary school and hospital multi-storey car park could look like as early proposals went on show.
People had an opportunity to look at the proposals for a new secondary school and multi-storey car park with up to 850 spaces near Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Wednesday.
The boards were on display at Lyppard Hub in Ankerage Green, Warndon Villages, between 1pm and 7pm as residents submitted their feedback via paper forms or online using a QR code.
EXPLAINED: Heather Alexander, Prime's location and community engagement manager, took time to talk visitors through the early proposals before outline planning permission is sought for the school and multi-storey (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
Developer Prime is aiming to submit a joint application together with Worcestershire County Council for outline planning permission for the multi-storey and school by the end of this month.
If the application is approved within 13 weeks, developers could secure outline permission by the end of this year
Representatives from Prime were seeking comments on design from members of the public with more detailed designs expected to be put before the public next summer.
BOLD: Photos of some Prime's other multi-storey car parks including the award winning car park of the year from Dorset (top left) (Image: James Connell/Newsquest photo of Prime display images)
Prime, which has won Property developer of the year five times in a row, also displayed images of its other multi-storey car parks in other parts of the country, including an award winning 650 space carpark in Dorset which won carpark of the year 2023.
The access to the new multi-storey would be accessed off Nunnery Way (A4440) which developers say will reduce journeys on Newtown Road and ease congestion in and around the hospital site.
Meanwhile, the joint application for the school aims to provide more school places in the city.
The proposed development comprises a 600 place mainstream secondary school for pupils between the age range of 11 and 16. It is anticipated that the full 600 places of the school would not be reached until 2031.
Ray and Pauline Horton live opposite what would be the proposed entrance to the new secondary school on Newtown Road, near the A4440.
DISPLAY: The information boards by Prime at the Lyppard Hub in Ankerage Green in Warndon Villages in Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
Both said they had no objection to the school 'in principle' but thought the access could be an issue.
Mr Horton, 77, said he was concerned it could exacerbate existing traffic problems.
"The road is horrendous. It's a real bottleneck. It's the congestion on the access road," he said.
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They were concerned about the impact on privacy of a new school opposite but said this could be mitigated by screening. Both accepted the area needed a school and 'the school has got to go somewhere'.
Mrs Horton, 68, said of the proposed multi-storey car park: "The carpark should have been built when the hospital was built."
The display made clear that the existing access on foot through the site to Worcester Woods Country Park would be maintained.
"We appreciate, however, that this development is going to change your experience of walking through the area, and that for dog walkers there will be an impact of a longer journey to open space," the display read.
Developers also said they would be 'seeking to maintain a rich habitat by enhancing land within the site, creating a dedicated area for wildlife to thrive'.
comments can be made here:
https://www.primeplc.com/consultation/wr5/
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