A ROW of buildings along Broad Street in Worcester is to be turned into one large licensed restaurant and caf bar.

The ground floors of 33, 34, 35, 36 Broad Street and 2 and 4 All Saints Road will be redeveloped after permission was granted by members of the city council's planning committee.

The upper floors of 36 Broad Street will also be turned into four flats, and a conservatory will cover an existing shared access way between the properties.

The site includes L'Aroma Restaurant, Dunkies Diner and the vandalised building on the corner of Broad Street and All Saints Road.

Extra permission is needed because the site is in the historic City Conservation Area and the properties are Grade II listed.

Worcester Civic Society and the Conservation Advisory Committee have not objected to the proposal.

Worcester City Centre Forum has welcomed renovation, but it objected to the plan because, it said, a bar of itssize could increase crime and disorder in the city.

The police said one licensed premises under one owner would be better for law and order than several premises because they would only have to deal with one company.

"This might take some of the pressure off some of the trouble spots in the city," said Councillor Paul Denham.

Principal planning officer Peter Yates said the owner of L'Aroma was retiring and his children had no intention of carrying on the business.

"The street is crying out for something to be done," said Councillor Ray Turner.