A DEVELOPER has been given planning permission to build 18 flats on the site of three city businesses.

Councillors signed off on plans to convert Legends Gym, Kitchen World and The Pits Duggan’s Motor Services, in Henwick Road, St John’s, Worcester, into new homes.

Cllr Richard Udall previously criticised the application, submitted by Boligold Limited, for threatening the businesses in the building.

But the boss of Legends Gym said he is about to sign a new lease to stay at the site.

Owner Martin Burford said: “It [the gym] will be open for the foreseeable future until I make up my mind where I’m going.

“No one has any idea when it’s going to be developed. I’ve got another unit that’s open now. I’m talking to the landlord about the future over there.

“It’s affecting me greatly. I’ve got a lease in line which will be for another couple of years.”

He added he would not have invested in equipment for his new gym in Sheriff Street, Worcester, if he was closing his St John’s site.

Kitchen World previously opposed the application on the grounds it would force the company to move sites.

The objection stated: “We have been in St John’s for over 35 years, if these plans go through we would have a costly move and with nothing like this building locally we would have to move out of St John’s completely.

“The gym is in an ideal location for students and residents and again this would be a costly move for them.

“Do we really need more flats, bearing in mind that the ones that already existing in this building are very rarely full for long?”

Cllr Chris Mitchell, planning committee chairman, backed the development at a Worcester City Council meeting.

He praised the project, which is on the edge of his St Clements ward, and said it would benefit the area.

Planning officer Alan Coleman said the proposed studio apartments would not be acceptable as affordable housing and asked for them to be replaced with one bedroom units.

This was approved by the committee. Councillors approved a previous application to build a new floor of flats above Kitchen World in 2015, although this has yet to be implemented.