Not many of us can look at one of Worcester’s most distinctive modern buildings and think: “I did that”.

But Councillor Geoff Williams, who is standing down, can get that little frisson of pleasure every time he sees the Hive in the centre of the city.

For Cllr Williams, who has been representing Gorse Hill as a Labour councillor at the Guildhall for 19 years, has been particularly active in planning – making decisions on how the city develops – and has had a couple od=f stints as the chairman of the planning committee.

He said: “Planning is vitally important to the city – I determines how its economy develops, how we increase prosperity, how we grow the city. It decides how we will provide housing for the people we need to take the jobs that come, and as part of it we also have to preserver the best of Worcester as the city develops to keep it a great place to live.

“I am quite proud of the Hive, it only just squeaked through the planning process, it’s a Marmite building, a lot of people didn’t like it.”

Cllr Williams came to Worcester in the early 1990s with his partner Moira from his native London, where he had already spent eight years as a councillor in the Borough of Southwark, and their two children , now grown up, had their schooling here.

He worked for Coventry City Council but took early retirement in the late 1990s, allowing him to resume his political career.

He added: “I was pleased to be part of the decision making bringing Cathedral Square back, it used to be quite run down at that end of town. I also had a role in economic matters with a scheme to encourage apprenticeships, enhancing our grants to businesses and nurturing the Kiln In Copenhagen Street as a space for start-up businesses.”

Come May 3, Mr Williams, as he will then be, will again be at the election count and will then take some time to enjoy travelling with Moira and listening to his favourite modern jazz.

He said: “I’ll still go to Labour party meetings, of course, but I’m looking forward to a proper retirement. At least for a while.”

Four candidates will contest his vacant Gorse Hill seat – Mohammed Altaf - Conservative Party; Jenny Barnes – Labour and Co-operative Party; Hannah Cooper - Green Party and John Francis - UKIP