NEW multi-million-pound plans to transform Shrub Hill are the latest in a long line of much-needed regeneration projects for a part of the city in desperate need of a makeover.

Worcester City Council revealed its £28 million bid for government money earlier this week and includes a long-awaited overhaul of the city’s Shrub Hill area with the First Bus Depot site in Padmore Street near Worcester Shrub Hill station top of the list for improvements.

The land would be transformed into 350 new homes and 2,000 square metres of commercial space under the new plans.

The ageing Isaac Maddox House site in Shrub Hill Road would also see a new enterprise centre and up to 100 homes built.

A new walking and cycle route between Shrub Hill station, the planned regeneration area and the city centre would also be created.

The new plan is the latest big promise for huge regeneration in the Shrub Hill area

Sherriff Gate Ltd revealed one of the city’s biggest regeneration schemes ever, estimated to cost more than £100 million, back in 2012 but is already years behind schedule.

The developer said last year it was “ready to go” and demolition work should have started last summer and expected to take two-and-a-half-years to complete.

The multi-million-pound plan includes hundreds of new apartments, shops, a hotel and a new footbridge to Worcester Shrub Hill railway station.

Plans were first put forward in March 2012 but were not approved until December 2018 after long negotiations between the developer and the city council.

The third phase would consist of building 76 flats, shops and a new building for a hotel or a different leisure use.

The original hope for the grand scheme, which was expected to take at least four years to complete, meant it should have been finished two years ago.

Early plans showed more than 600 homes alongside an 80-bed elderly care village, cinema, bowling alley, ice skating rink, retail, restaurants, a 96-bed hotel, gym, 1,000 parking spaces, offices and more.

Shrub Hill has also been included as one of the top priority areas for regeneration in the Worcester City Centre Masterplan which sets out a vision for how the city will look by 2040.

Adopted in 2019, the document shows how the city’s historic Shrub Hill area would be completely renovated into a business district with high-quality offices and new parking.

The hope is for the eyesore Elgar House, which was built in the 60s and blocks the city’s Victorian Shrub Hill station, to be demolished to make way for a brand new ‘gateway’ plaza.