Porcelain site redevelopment gets thumbs up - The Worcester Observer

Porcelain site redevelopment gets thumbs up

Worcester Editorial 1st May, 2014 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

ONE OF the city’s most historic sites is set to be turned into a vibrant arts quarter after it received the go-ahead from city councillors.

Plans to redevelop the former Royal Worcester Porcelain works on Severn Street were put before the planning committee at the Guildhall last Thursday (April 24) where members voted in favour of the proposal.

The £10million scheme, which will include a variety of shops, restaurants, café’s and entertainment space, was supported unanimously by councillors.

A 20 metre glass viewing tower is set to be a focal point of the project, but a number of councillors said they were concerned about the lack of information they had on the structure.




Coun Robert Rowden, councillor for Battenhall, said: “It’s a very interesting development and I’m absolutely in favour of it. But it would be interesting to have a little bit more information on the tower and how high it is in comparison to the Cathedral Tower.

“If they are going to use tiles I hope they are high quality because I remember going to Warwick University some time ago and they were just falling off, I wouldn’t want that to happen.”


Coun Dr David Tibbutt, fellow councillor for Battenhall, added: “I like the design and I am in favour of it but the tower is going to be very iconic and we’ve no clue what it really looks like.

“All we’ve seen is something stuck up with a bit of orange on it.”

But planning officer, Alan Coleman, said the tower would be more than 30 metres lower than the Cathedral Tower.

Coun Lynn Denham, councillor for the Cathedral ward, voiced her concerns about the potential traffic problems that could come with the development.

“We all want it to be a real success,” she said. “However, if the existing car parking was full up there has to be some question mark over parking.

“There is going to be much more of a traffic flow around the whole system which will have to loop round and round.”

The scheme was approved with the addition of further discussions of the appearance of the viewing tower.

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