THE developer behind a shops and homes plan for former Worcester nightclub says he hopes to transform the eyesore building.

As previously reported in the Worcester News, businessman Peter Styles has submitted an application to Worcester City Council to knock down the former Zig Zag nightclub in St John's and build two ground floor shops and 12 flats.

He said: “The council has been crying out for it to be developed.

This has been a very slow process that has been two or three years in the making since we bought the site from Sainsbury’s.

We have spent the last 12 months in consultation with the council to even get to this stage, it is seen as a very sensitive area.

“Hopefully we can get this built, and stop the site looking like an eyesore."

The nightclub was vacated in 1998 and has been boarded up since arsonists set it on fire in August 2007.

It was hoped the building would be redeveloped in 2009 but nothing ever came to fruition.

Now Mr Styles aims to rebuild the former nightclub and redevelop the adjoining Cordle's shop.

The proposal would create two full-time and four part-time jobs.

West Mercia Police divisional risk manager Michael Stephenson objected to the application expressing concern about the lack of security planning.

However, Mr Styles said there was a lack of information available at the time the police made their report and any concerns could be addressed quite easily.

St John's city and county councillor Richard Udall welcomed plans to develop the area.

He said: "As with all these things the devil is in the detail but on the face of it, I can only welcome the proposals.

"It has been sticking out like a sore thumb in St John's and I am hoping something can be done about it."