Town’s new look takes a major move forward

4:50pm Wednesday 24th September 2008

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PLANS to transform an area of Droitwich with entertainment venues and shops are set to take a major step forward.

Developers are now just weeks away from submitting a full planning application for the town’s Covercroft car park site.

Final proposals for the redevelopment of the area were unveiled at a public exhibition. The scheme, by developers Kandahar, the group which is also behind the transformation of the near by St Andrew’s Square shopping centre, envisages a larger Morrisons store, shops, a cinema, bowling alley and restaurants on the site. The meeting to display the final plans follows previous consultation events held this year to gather people’s opinions.

Kandahar asset manager Mike Tyler said: “We are delighted with the favourable response to our proposals. This reflects the strong dialogue we have had with the local community in preparing our scheme.” However, Danuka Jones, from Butterfingers Cookshop in the town’s High Street, who is also a member of independent traders group DROIT, is both excited and apprehensive about the plans.

“My first thought was the fear that it would take trade away from the High Street, but the more I think about it the more I think it could benefit the town.

“Hopefully, the new development will bring people to Droitwich and the High Street.

“I want to know more about the kind of stores that could be opened, but hopefully the High Street can also benefit as more people visit the town in the future.”