More railway arches could become business spaces

More new shops, wine bars and restaurants could be on the way as part of a project to make use of a set of railway arches in Worcester.

The Worcester Arches regeneration project between the city centre and the riverside has seen millions of pounds of public and private funding in recent years.

Other previously empty arches have, among other things, been turned into restaurants, bars and art galleries.

The latest plans, spread across three separate applications, cover a total of 12 arches in Farrier Street, Cherry Tree Walk and Infirmary Walk.

Last year, a new walkway was opened following the demolition of a takeaway in Foregate Street, and now plans have come forward to transform more empty railway arches.

Proposals submitted to Worcester City Council said 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".

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.

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.

The scheme includes 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 had helped establish the arches as a cultural quarter for the city.

"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.

Kay warned that "controls" should be considered to ensure the arches near to residential properties did not have a detrimental impact.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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