A MAJOR revamp of one of the key gateways to the city is on the cards in a bid to attract more shoppers to the area.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds will be spent on sprucing up Angel Place including moveable market stalls, new trees and using the same colours and materials as the recent High Street work to make the market more attractive and provide stronger links to the rest of the city centre.
Worcester City Council has teamed up with The Crown Estate, owners of CrownGate Shopping Centre and Worcestershire County Council to draw up the plans and its cabinet will be asked to stump up £120,000 of the estimated total cost of £341,000 at next Tuesday’s (November 12) meeting.
It is hoped work will start early next year and be completed by Easter.
The move comes after market traders were asked last year for their thoughts on how Angel Place could be enhanced to attract more shoppers and provide a better welcome, with overwhelming support to keep a market on site and freshen the area up.
Coun Geoff Williams, cabinet member for economic prosperity, said: “This is a great opportunity to create a market that will be able to grow and attract more visitors.
“We want to see a bigger, more modern and more appealing retail area in Angel Place, one that shows what a great city Worcester is.”
The redevelopment will also see stalls positioned in the centre in a double row to make it more attractive and easier for shoppers to navigate.
Hannah Milne, Crown Estate’s regional portfolio manager, added: “These proposals will enhance the entire area for visitors and shoppers, reinvigorating the public realm and market facilities in Angel Place and improving the connections between Friary Walk and Chapel Walk.”
Discussions with market traders and the police are ongoing, as to what temporary arrangements will be made while the work is carried out, as Angel Place is home to numerous bars, clubs and restaurants and one of the city’s busiest areas at night.
