A NUMBER of significant plans were put forward in Worcester last week including a huge multi-million-pound scheme to create a ‘northern quarter’ in the city centre.

Worcester City Council revealed its £29 million plans to transform several streets in the northern side of the city centre near Worcester Foregate Street to create a new arts venue, shops, bars and restaurants as well as other housing and other cultural facilities.

Councillors will discuss the major bid at a meeting on Tuesday (July 28).

The city council also revealed its latest plans for its other major multi-million-pound project in the city’s historic Victorian arches.

Work is already well underway to turn that underused part of the city centre into a creative hub but plans to buy and demolish Foregate Street chicken shop Jacq’s as part of the work to create a direct link between the train station, the Hive and the riverside were revealed in a council report.

Staying in the city centre, coffee shop Black and White in Foregate Street was handed a late-night alcohol licence by the council as it prepares for life after the coronavirus lockdown.

The plan’s approval came after some objections were made over the potential disturbance it would cause to neighbours living in the Hopmarket.

In Malvern, plans to build 21 more homes on green space were rejected much to the delight of local councillors.

Malvern Hills District Council rejected a Fortis Living plan to build the homes on land off Pickersleigh Grove in Malvern having rejected a similar plan for 23 homes earlier this year.

The homes would have been built next to 92 already-approved homes which are nearing completion.

Local councillor Paul Bennett said he was delighted with the rejection saying allowing the homes would have been the final straw.

Also in Malvern, Riverside Holiday Park in Little Clevelode has asked for permission to allow 78 more static caravans on the site.

Around 20 acres of land covering some of the existing fields originally earmarked for touring caravans and a play area would be used for the extension.