NEW shops, wine bars and restaurants could be on the way as part of an extension of Worcester Arches.
The regeneration project has seen millions of public and private funding poured into historic railway arches between the city centre and the riverside in recent years.
Previously empty arches have been turned into successful restaurants, bars, art galleries and creative spaces.
EMPTY: A dozen empty arches have been earmarked for development (Image: Lewis and Hickey)
And last year, a new walkway was opened following the demolition of a takeaway in Foregate Street.
Now plans have come forward to transform more empty railway arches .
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Proposals submitted to Worcester City Council say the scheme “forms part of the ongoing regeneration of Worcester city centre and seeks to enhance the contribution of the arches to the vibrancy, economic activity and wider townscape of this key location”.
BUSY: One of the arches could become a restaurant (Image: Lewis and Hickey)
The plans, spread across three separate applications, cover a total of 12 arches in Farrier Street, Cherry Tree Walk and Infirmary Walk.
The applications seek “flexible commercial use” for the units, so a wide range of potential future occupants could make use of the arches.
These could include shops, restaurants, gyms, health services and industrial processes.
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An additional ‘Sui Generis’ use is proposed for Arches 60 and 61, which would allow them to become wine bars, pubs or takeaways.
Also included in the plans is a proposal for an electrical substation behind Arch 53.
Plans could be ‘transformational’
The plans are for the “refurbishment and reactivation” of the arches, including glass fronts, water and power connections, and drainage.
Nick Kay, the council’s economic development officer, said national funding has helped establish the arches as a cultural quarter for the city.
ARCHES: The railway arches proposed for development are marked on this graphic (Image: Lewis and Hickey)
“As such this proposal will further enhance this concept/work and if progressed will reinforce the transformational impact on the area, from a very much ‘edge of centre’ to a thriving destination, which is hoped will attract a significant number of visitors,” he said.
Mr Kay also warned that “controls should be considered to ensure that arches in near proximity to residential units and other noise sensitive uses should not have detrimental impact upon their amenity levels. This may require controls over hours of operation.”