Plans revealed for Joy Mining, Meco site in St John's

The old Joy Mining plant in Bromyard Road has been empty since last year after being vacated by its most recent owners Komatsu.

The factory has been a part of St John’s since 1925 when it was opened by Meco (Mining Engineering Company).

Although light on detail, plans submitted to Worcester City Council show a company called D1 Gyms is looking to take on the site.

The change of use application says there would be parking for 239 cars, 12 bicycles and four motorbikes.

HISTORY: The Meco or Joy Mining site has been in St John's for nearly 100 years (Image: Google Maps)

The amount of factory space, split over two parcels of land either side of the railway tracks, totals around 13,000 square metres.

Japanese firm Komatsu bought the manufacturing plant in 2017 and closed it in 2023, two years’ short of its 100th anniversary, and resulting in the loss of 150 jobs.

READ MORE: Memorial to victims of fatal Meco bomb attack finally in place

READ MORE: Meco Alley, Wilks Walk and Happyland Walk in St John's named officially

The site has a rich history and was bombed by a lone German aircraft on October 3, 1940.

The Meco bombing as it came to be known also destroyed a number of houses, and was the only attack to cause a loss of life in Worcester during the Second World War.

Seven people were killed in the attack and 50 injured.

WARNING: A sign at the former Joy Mining site (Image: Phil Wilkinson-Jones/LDRS)

A memorial sculpture dedicated to those killed and injured in the bombing was unveiled last year by 95-year-old Irene Allen, who narrowly avoided being injured in the attack.

The leaf-shaped sculpture sits at the centre of the nearby Meco Memorial Nature Park.

Meco Alley, which runs alongside the factory, was officially named in 2022 along with Happyland Walk and Wilks Walk.

The footpaths previously had names well-known to residents but were given road signs and named ‘officially’ so they would appear on maps.