A MULTI-million pound regeneration of an area of Worcester is finally set to get underway.

The regeneration of Shrub Hill is due to begin in March with the £150million project waiting for the final sign off from the City Council.

Planners will decide on finalising the plans on February 24 after it was initially given full detailed planning approval in July 2021.

The regeneration includes hundreds of new apartments, a hotel, gym, multi-storey car park, food and drink outlets and a cinema.

Stennard Harrison, managing director of Worcester-based Sherriff Gate Developments, who are behind the project, said: "We are very excited that after many years of dedicated hard work by many people and organisations, this project, which is very dear to my heart, will once and for all commence this March.

"Shrub Hill was included as one of the major areas for regeneration in the Worcester City Centre Masterplan and we are delighted to be bringing this to fruition in partnership with the city council.

"Phase 1 of the site has already been cleared for work to commence on the first of 213 apartments.

"We have in excess of 100 men ready to uplift one of the major gateways into Worcester.

"This project is fantastic news for the city and this will start the complete continuity of the whole development."

Developers say the regeneration will create hundreds of new jobs, as well as opportunities for people in Worcester to get on the housing ladder with affordable housing also included in the plans.

In total, 468 new homes will be built, with phase one seeing 213 of these being built.

This, according to Sherriff Gate, will bring in around £340,000 more to the city in council tax eacch year.

Plans were approved by councillors at a meeting of Worcester City Council's planning committee on July 29, when approval was given for a Section 106 agreement, meaning the developers need to put money forward for additional improvements.

The overall sum of the contributions equates to a total of £4,791,158 including more than £3.7million contribution to the Shrub Hill area.