A FORMER petrol station in Hylton Road will become a hand car wash.

Plans by A1 Autos to take over the site, near Cripplegate Park, have been given the green light by Worcester City Council.

The business will provide employment for eight members of staff and will be open seven days a week.

Planning permission for a petrol station at the site was first given in 1955.

The forecourt has also been used as a car showroom and for vehicle rentals. An MOT testing centre is currently being run from the back of the site.

According to planning documents, fuel tanks on the site were decommissioned and inert filled 20 years ago.

Worcestershire Highways said the hand car wash plan should only be approved if it were to include access and queuing lanes, wash and dry areas, a staff-only parking area, an exit lane and turning facilities.

The council’s conservation officer said: “This proposed change of use is appropriate for the site and continues its previous uses in relation to cars.

“External changes are minimal, and, overall, will neaten up the site considerably.

“It is considered that this proposal will have a positive impact upon the conservation area.”

Neither the Environment Agency or the South Worcestershire Land Drainage Partnership Team had any objections to the proposal, despite the site being on a flood plain.

Hylton Road is notoriously bad for flooding, but the plans don’t include any extensions to the existing building - just the addition of drainage infrastructure to support the use of the site as a car wash.

There will also be minor changes to the internal layout of the building.

Planning officers said: “It is considered that the proposed change of use would not detract unacceptably from the character or appearance of the surrounding area.

“Taking all material issues into consideration, it is considered that there is sufficient merit to warrant granting approval.”