PLANS to turn a former railway yard into flats put forward more than 18 months ago now look to have been put on the back burner after the building was deemed listed.

The proposals put forward in March 2022 showed how the Railway Yard off Midland Road in Worcester would be transformed into 50 new apartments by developer Promanco.

With no decision looming on the plan, the developer has now said it is “considering how to respond” to the building’s recent grade II listing.

The 19th-century building was listed by Historic England in October last year – eight months after the planning application was submitted.

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Historic England said the building was “architecturally striking and functionally effective” and “surviving well.”

The conservationists also said the building was an “excellent representation” of Midland Railway’s style and was part of a number of valuable and listed railway buildings in and around Shrub Hill.

Julia Day from Inchbald Day Planning which represents the applicant Promanco said the developer was weighing up its options.

“Following the statutory listing to a grade II listed building by Historic England of the Old Railway Yard in Midland Road, Worcester, the developer is considering how to respond.

“The applicant Promanco looks forward to working with the city council to help deliver this exciting innovative development which will bring much-needed flats to the city.”

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The planning application showed how the roof of the building would be removed to make way for a new four-storey apartment building – work that would be much more difficult to carry out now it is listed.

The building is currently home to indoor playground The Buzz and rock-climbing centre Redpoint.

After the listing by Historic England, the Victorian Society said in a “strong” objection: “The application currently lacks an assessment of the remaining historical features of the building and which of these would be affected by the proposal.

“The proposal would need to be clear on what justification is given as to why the layout is to be changed so drastically, as the layout and functionality of the building is one of the main reasons it was listed.”