A PROPOSAL for the former Co-op building in St John's to be transformed into shops and housing has been pitched to Worcester City Council.

Cllr Richard Udall, Worcester City and Worcestershire County councillor for St John's ward believes Worcester City Council should purchase the building as a "new investment opportunity".

Staff gathered outside Co-op in The Bullring on Saturday, April 9 to say goodbye after 130 years of trading in St John's.

READ MORE: Teens banned from Worcester city centre for 24 hours

Cllr Udall believes a mixture of small shops and housing, plus a new public open space with extra parking and cycling facilities could replace the former Co-op store.  

He said: "Retail and shopping in St John's is vital to local people and the city as a whole.

"It cannot be right for such an important area, like St John's, to have one of its largest retail units empty for so long.

"Not only would this be a much-needed investment for St John's, it could provide a good return on the capital employed, earning revenue for the local authority which could be ploughed back into public services.

"I believe the suggestion deserves some serious consideration".  

READ MORE: Worcester City Council say flats plan for St John's Co-op is 'too big'

Worcester City Council was not in favour of plans to replace the site with 58 new flats for over 60s in February, stating the project was "too big".

Cllr Udall also wants to see more investment shown to St John's, similar to that which has been seen in the city centre.

He said: "St John's also needs investment and 'levelling up' not just the city centre.

"We need to consider how we can support the economic development of St John's, how we can encourage small specialist retailers to return and provide housing and leisure facilities, a St John's public square would be brilliant, somewhere for people to meet and have a chat or a location for a farmers market. 

"We could do something very special for St John's, we just need the inclination, the desire for change, and the ability to meet the challenge".

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Worcester city council declined to respond to Cllr Udall’s statement as it is in a "pre-election period".

Cllr Udall is standing for re-election in St John's ward at the 2023 elections against Peter Jackson (Liberal Democrats), Mark Davies (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition), Bertie Ballinger (Conservative Party) and Susan Avery (Green Party).