PLANS for a £150 million John Lewis-led Worcester shopping park are dead in the water - after developers decided against appealing to national inspectors.

The deadline for asking independent planning officials to overturn a decision over Worcester Woods has now expired, with the firm behind the big plaza abandoning its chase.

The stance - which has surprised some insiders - is a huge victory for Worcester City Council, which refused the bid to develop the acres of fields off Newtown Road back in June.

Land Securities, the UK's biggest developer, had six months from that decision to appeal, but the cut-off date has now come and gone without it being lodged.

The Worcester News can exclusively real how the company is now considering a "revised scheme" for the site - but if anything does emerge it is expected to be dramatically watered down.

Some insiders suggested the tipping point over Worcester Woods was the eye-watering costs of a protracted legal battle, which was likely to have smashed through a six-figure sum - and the high chance of an inspector backing the council.

At the time of the rejection in June councillors were adamant it would damage the prospects of Worcester city centre's retailers.

Worcester News:

The Worcester Woods scheme included 13 units totalling 398,000 square foot of floor space, one third of the entire city centre, with a £7 million John Lewis At Home store, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and Next Home and Garden all signed up.

A spokesman for Land Securities said: "After due consideration, Land Securities has decided not to appeal the decision.

"However we are currently considering an alternative scheme for Worcester Woods."

Retail giant IKEA has also been linked with a possible deal over the site, which is by Worcestershire Royal Hospital, but nothing has been confirmed.

The lack of an appeal over Worcester Woods has delighted traders, who have issued a fresh plea for John Lewis to invest in the city centre.

Tim Evans, from Toys & Games of Worcester in Broad Street, said: "It's very good news.

"But it is only half the battle, we've got to improve the city centre and for those retailers that wanted Worcester Woods, get them to come into the city where we have room for them.

"If we got John Lewis into the city centre it would help attract new investment, it'll benefit the infrastructure, it would really help with the wider picture."

Worcester News:

At the time of the refusal, council planning officers asked consultants to investigate the implications of Worcester Woods, who came back and claimed the out-of-town plaza would swipe 10.8 per cent off city centre trade.

The consultants also said it would make city centre investment "much more difficult" and damage the iconic £20 million Cathedral Square development.

It was hotly disputed by the developer, which spent over two years preparing its proposals for the site, pictured below.

Worcester News:

The firm said the city was losing too many shoppers to destinations like Birmingham and Cheltenham, but its arguments were rejected.