AN extension and refurbishment to a jaded town centre shopping complex will include a gym, restaurants and flats.

And the plans for the Salters Shopping Centre, in St Andrew's Square, Droitwich, have been met with a warm welcome by Droitwich Spa Civic Society, which is charged with protecting the appearance of the town.

If the applicant and centre owner, Kandahar (Droitwich) Ltd, is successful, six two-bedroom and four one-bedroom flats, the gym, two restaurants and more shops would be built on the St Andrew's Street entrance.

And nearly 5,000sq-ft of shop and restaurant space would be added to the supermarket side of the complex.

As well as creating more shop space, the square would be resurfaced and a free-standing steel and glass caf would be built on it.

The plans are the second stage in the refurbishment of the centre.

In February, Kandahar was given the green light to build two new spaces to hold branches of Argos and Carphone Warehouse.

Work on these will start later this year, said Richard Brighton, chairman of the Droitwich Association for Retail, Services and Tourism.

"I have seen the proposals and I think they are to be welcomed.

"A refurbishment is somewhat overdue - it's looking a bit jaded, and I think the plans, which make use of good quality materials will make it blend in with the rest of Droitwich."

Council officials dealing with the application said there had been considerable negotiations to ensure the visual impact of the extensions did not detract from nearby buildings - especially the listed building, the Raven Hotel.

The manager of the centre, Kevin O'Hara, said he was not willing to comment on the plans until they had been before Wychavon District Council planning committee which is due to meet on Thursday.

''The planner's might be recommending it, but they are not yet cast in tablets of stone," he said.