Controversial proposals to create two drive-thrus were rejected after the scheme was called in by a former city mayor from his hospital bed, sparking an avalanche of objections.
As a result of Stephen Hodgson calling in the proposal to build a McDonald's and Starbucks drive-thru in Warndon Villages, the decision was delegated to planning officers who rejected the scheme on Monday.
The plans involved building two drive-thrus on land to the east of the A4440 between the A4440 Trotshill Way and the northbound carriageway of the M5 motorway with an application received by the planning department on March 26.
Planning permission was sought by Canmoor Limited for building two, single storey, detached buildings for McDonald's and Starbucks with cars entering via Roundhouse Way.
Cllr Stephen Hodgson, then a city councillor, had pneumonia when he called in the application meaning it had to be considered more closely by Worcester City Council planning officers who refused it.
After it was called in, there were 277 objections to the proposal and only 10 in support.
Some criticised the lack of need with other similar facilities nearby in two retail parks in Blackpole, in Hornhill Road and Brindley Road including a KFC drive thru, a McDonald's drive thru, a Starbucks, Costa, Greggs, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Subway and pubs serving food.
The criticism also centred on an adverse impact on road safety and congestion, 'potential increased risk for pedestrians', lack of parking, loss of green space, impact on wildlife, litter and anti-social behaviour, including the site being used as 'a meeting point for racing'.
The decision to reject the application was also celebrated in the Warndon Villages Community Group, a Facebook group with nearly 5,000 members, with one member saying she was 'so relieved I'm crying."
Lucy Hodgson, chair of Warndon Parish Council and wife of Stephen Hodgson, said: "We're all delighted with the outcome. Stephen called it in and the agreement was that, if it was refused (by planning officers), it would not go to committee. He knew that it had to be called in so he did it. He just gets on with it.
"It would have had an impact on the biodiversity. If it had been allowed, it would not have been in the right place. It would have been a travesty for the community.
"It was also about antisocial behaviour and the fact it was near a 60mph road. It was just not a good place at all. We would like to think it's off the table."
Cllr Andrew Cross, a Green Party city councillor for Leopard Hill and a county councillor for Warndon Parish, also welcomed the decision to reject the application.
He said: "Many local people including me will be very relieved with this decision.
"In order for city planners to refuse speculative applications (or borderline ones), their processes have to be spot-on, otherwise the applicant can appeal and costs may be awarded against our city council (council tax payers).
"Several years ago, the planning process here was deeply questionable and that's what got me into the weird world of local politics. It is reassuring that our local planning team are performing well both in terms of volume of planning determinations and also in terms of quality of decisions. Here's hoping this continues."
The case officer wrote the proposal would result in an 'unjustified loss of employment land'.
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Recommending refusal, she added: "Due to the site’s layout and density it would not minimise the scope for conflicts between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, or give priority to cycle movements, to achieve healthy and safe communities and in terms of positively contributing to the wider goal of moving to a low carbon economy.
"In addition, the outdoor dining areas would be unpleasant and unhealthy to use due to their location in close proximity to associated noise and fumes."
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