ARCHITECTS are hoping new plans for flats on the site of a former restaurant will avoid fresh controversy.

Developers have put in proposals to build five upmarket flats where the Little Sauce Factory, now Pete’s Restaurant, currently stands at the corner of London Road and Fort Royal Hill.

A similar scheme for six flats, including a clock tower, was turned down by members of Worcester City Council’s planning committee in July despite officers recommending the development get the go-ahead.

The site’s owner, city businessman Peter Styles, has put in plans with a redesign of how the development will look.

When it was turned down earlier this year, councillors said the new building did not carry enough regard to the historic character of the area, and their duty to preserve the view of a gateway into the city which looks across to Worcester Cathedral.

The new plans submitted in mid-October show a rendered slate-roofed building and five parking spaces, one disabled-friendly. Architects Boughton Butler said they were hopeful the new proposals will find more sympathy with planners.

“We’ve taken on board what was said and we’ve spoken widely with conservation and planning officers,” said Ian Butler, company partner. For instance, the retaining wall of Fort Royal Park which carries on into the house neighbouring the Little Sauce Factory is now incorporated into the design. We will follow planners’ advice on what colour the final building should be.”

He also added it was “never the intention” for the development to compete with the view along London Road to the city’s historic cathedral.

The saga over redeveloping the site has now been running for more than three years.

Permission has already been given for six flats on another part of the site, which leaves the existing restaurant building intact.

A developer-commissioned conservation report submitted with the plans says “it is not easy to see what architectural value remains in this much altered, low quality building.”

It also adds converting the restaurant to housing “would create poor quality accommodation” and is the “odd one out” when taken in context of the surrounding park and historic buildings.