UP to 500 jobs could be created as part of plans to build offices on the site of a former car dealership in Worcester.

Sanctuary Group wants to expand by building a five storey office building on the Suzuki Garage site on Farrier Street - at the back of its Sanctuary House headquarters, in Castle Street.

If its plans get the go-ahead, the new office will have 3,804 square metres of floorspace, on the 1,820 square metre site, and would create 500 new full-time jobs plus more during construction.

The plan has been welcomed as a boost to the city's economy and a way to support growth.

Nick Kay, Worcester City Council economic development and regeneration team leader, said: “The building will provide office accommodation within the City for approximately 500 additional jobs once completed, along with additional jobs during its construction, and as such will have significant benefits towards employment opportunities within Worcester.

"This level of investment, from Sanctuary Housing, should be encouraged and the potential job creation should be strongly supported.

"It is hoped that, if approved, the facility will positively invest in training/apprenticeships to ensure a workforce is available, locally, to satisfy the occupier's future employment needs."

Maria Dunn, Worcester City Council economic development and planning policy team leader, added: "This is a variation to a previously approved scheme. This is a sustainable location for intensive office use and a very welcome development that will help to close the gap between the targets in the South Worcestershire Development Plan for employment supporting development and the slow progress towards these targets since 2006."

The plans, submitted to Worcester City Council, would include 25 spaces for bikes as well as two disability car parking spaces.

Sanctuary Group is a leading housing and care provider and employs more than 1,500 people in Worcestershire and 12,500 people nationally.

A spokesman for Sanctuary Group said: "Worcester is a great place to live and work and we are ambitious to grow in the local area.

"The application to build new office premises on Farrier Street, backing onto our existing Worcester campus on Castle Street, is to replace elapsed planning permission and to give us expansion options if required."

To view the plan online visit Worcester City Council, click on planning applications and search P18D0093.