THE heart of Kidderminster is set to become a "conservation area" in a move designed to protect the town's heritage.

The plans for Vicar Street, Exchange Street and parts of Oxford Street and High Street would give planners a bigger say over changes to buildings. Brintons offices, Exchange Street.

It would also enable them to control the design and appearance of new schemes within the zone, including the "gateway" shops and walkway entrance to the Weavers' Wharf site.

The public will be consulted over the draft proposals before a final decision is made. The boundary of the area would stretch from the library to the junction of Vicar and High Streets.

The zone includes seven listed buildings and structures - the Town Hall, Corn Exchange, Barclay's Bank building, Brintons offices, Lloyds Bank, the building housing WH Smith and the statue of Sir Rowland Hill.

It also contains historic features including two former tram shelters, now bus shelters, and the spot where the flower seller's stall stands at the bottom of High Street which marks the town's medieval outdoor market. Sir Rowland Hill's statue outside Kidderminster Town Hall.

Wyre Forest district councillor Howard Martin, who represents the town centre, said: "I think it's an excellent step forward.

"Kidderminster has lost so many of its commercial and industrial buildings in the last 40 or 50 years that we need to retain what's left.

"Anyone who thinks the buildings there are nothing special should just look up. The town centre has some tremendous old Victorian buildings with great character. Lloyds TSB, High Street, Kidderminster.

"The buildings recently taken down in Vicar Street between the Town Hall and WH Smiths - formerly Mothercare and Bacon Shoes - were an abomination of 60s planning. By creating a conservation area we can hopefully prevent anything that awful going up again."

An officer's report to the district council's environment and development scrutiny committee highlights elements that "detract" from the zone's character, including the quality of the alteration of ground floor shop fronts in four buildings.

The idea is recommended for backing and is subject to the approval of the council's executive.