AN AMBITIOUS bid to breathe new life into the northern half of the city centre has moved a step closer after Worcester was revealed as one of the areas in the running for a share of a £1 billion Government funding pot.
Council chiefs have been handed £150,000 to develop detailed project proposals to regenerate the area from The Cross up to Foregate Street train station after their plans made it to the next round of the competition to secure a share of the Future High Streets Fund.
Should the revamp plans prove successful, the council will then be able to unlock a share of the £1billion set aside to transform towns and cities across the UK and breathe new life into the areas affected.
The proposals for Worcester take in Broad Street, Angel Place, Trinity Passage and Queen Street.
The area is home to the Angel Place market, Friary Walk shopping centre and the bus station as well as the former Scala Theatre and Victorian Corn Exchange on the corner of Angel Place and Angel Street.
A number of shops such as the former Colmore Depot and Co-Op supermarket lie derelict and the area and is sometimes a focus for anti-social behaviour.
Council chiefs hope to emulate the success of the revamp of the High Street, The Shambles and Cathedral Square in a bid to ensure the northern part of the city centre once again thrives as an active, vibrant part of the city.
It’s hoped a diverse leisure, residential and cultural scheme will be brought to life with new jobs being created and fresh life breathed back into historic buildings. Proposals are likely to included plans to regenerate Angel Place, Trinity House, the former Angel Street Co-op, the old Scala Theatre and the Victorian Corn Exchange.
Worcester’s MP Robin Walker welcomed the announcement and said: “We are tremendously fortunate here in Worcester to have such a fantastic High Street and a great mix of shops in the city, but there are areas on the periphery that need support, like The Tything and Barbourne Road.”
The initial application to the Future High Streets Fund was supported by Worcestershire County Council, Worcestershire LEP, the Crown Estate (owners of Crowngate Shoppping Centre), the University of Worcester, Worcester BID, the owners of Trinity House, market operator LSD Promotions and others.
Worcester’s detailed proposals will be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by April 30, 2020.
