Plan to build almost 100 flats in Worcester city centre is facing yet another delay

A major plan to build almost 100 flats in the city centre is facing yet another delay – almost six years after it was first approved.

The plan, which will eventually see 98 apartments built opposite St Martin’s Gate car park in Worcester, has been hit by a number of delays since it was approved by the city council in 2016.

A number of buildings – which were used for car valeting and repairs – have been demolished to make way for the six-storey apartment block but work has yet to start.

Worcester Developments Ltd is now asking the council to allow a number of minor changes to the mix of apartments in the building which would mean work could start.

The deadline for which work needs to have started on the apartment block is currently January 2023.

A letter sent to Worcester City Council by the developer said: “The purpose of the current application is to enable delivery of the scheme, such that the regeneration of this important brownfield site embedded in the urban area can be taken forward to a tender process in January 2022.

“In so doing it will make a valuable contribution to the city’s housing requirement in a highly sustainable location.”

The latest delay follows widespread disruption following the introduction of social distancing and lockdown measures by the government in March last year to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Worcester Developments Ltd, which had its wish granted to extend the date on which work must at least start until January 2021 by Worcester City Council’s planning committee last year, asked again for the deadline to be pushed back until April 2022.

Another request to change the deadline was granted last year pushing it back to January 2023.

Planning permission for the flats was approved by the council in July 2016 and signed off in January 2018.

The developer than asked in March last year for that condition to be removed which, it was said, would untangle some of the complex contracts and archaeological work to allow for demolition to take place and the development to progress.