Decision due on cycle link in Worcester

A decision is set to be made on whether to build a new walking and cycling link between the city centre and Shrub Hill.

The plans by Worcester City Council would see a new five-metre-wide link created between Pheasant Street, opposite the Asda car park in Worcester, Padmore Street and the existing Cromwell Street bridge over the canal.

The scheme would also include improvements to the bridge and parts of Cromwell Street on the eastern side of the canal, to create an attractive new way of getting between the city centre and Shrub Hill without having to use a car or bus.

Diageo, the owners of Shrub Hill Retail Park, Farmfoods and First Bus have all registered ‘holding’ objections over a ‘lack of information’ in the application.

A decision will be made by Worcester City Council’s planning committee at a meeting in the Guildhall on Thursday (September 21).

The plan will be discussed in public as the application is being made by the city council and the city council’s planning officers have recommended it is approved.

If all goes smoothly to plan, the council expects the work to start in March 2025.

The planning application forms an important part of the wider regeneration of the area around the canal and Shrub Hill station.

In June, Worcestershire County Council revealed its new ‘vision’ for Shrub Hill which shows how it imagines the area will grow in the next 20 years which includes 500 new homes and predictions of up to 5,000 new jobs.

The overhaul of Shrub Hill Industrial Estate and the surrounding area includes hundreds of new homes, and business and office space and will eventually be home to a new ‘neighbourhood’ filled with restaurants, bars and shops.

The council has been holding talks with several parties over buying land around Pheasant Street and Padmore Street to make sure the new route can be built – including First Bus over acquiring part of its depot.

The improvements for Shrub Hill were dealt a blow earlier this year when the government snubbed a £20 million bid by Worcester City Council for ‘levelling-up’ money which included plans to transform the grade II-listed Engine Works in Shrub Hill Road into “landmark” offices and creative workshop space.