BRONZE birds around a reflective stainless steel dish could become a new landmark work of art greeting Worcester shoppers.

The bold sculpture, said to be influenced by Royal Worcester Porcelain, has been put forward as a replacement to the huge mural featuring a wizard that used to decorate the side of the former TJ’s building in Broad Street.

The building will open as a Boston Tea Party café next month and the mural on the grade two-listed building was painted over as part of the refurbisment to the CrownGate shopping centre by owner the Crown Estate.

The design, commissioned from artist Kathryn Hodgkinson is being touted as a talking point worthy of featuring on postcards.

Ms Hodgkinson said: “It’s an exciting project right in the heart of the city that will be seen regularly by large numbers of people. I think my plans would create something accessible to everyone and offers a real opportunity for the viewer to engage imaginatively with the piece.”

Jim Yates, head of development for applicants Crown Estate, said: “We believe that returning public art to this site is an important part of our ongoing investment programme in Worcester.”

The artwork, with the working title Confluence, consists of 37 bronze birds, 33 of which will be hand modelled and cast from stuffed common British birds, while the other five will be decorative ‘fantasy’ birds inspired by Royal Worcester porcelain designs. The fantasy birds will feature references to Worcester’s shopping scene and other themes.

The concave stainless steel dish will reflect the sky and the surroundings.

The design was presented by regional architectural consultancy Midland Architecture and the Designed Environment to the Worcester Public Art Panel and Conservation Areas Advisory Committee at the beginning of September.

The committee, which includes city council planning and conservation officers, was said to reacted positively to the design.

If the piece gets the go-ahead, the dish and birds would need to be washed with a mild detergent every year. Although the paint is expected to last 10 years, the birds can be removed for maintenance, which will be the responsibility of the freeholder of 18 Broad Street.

A decision on the plans is expected early December.