Plans for former Debenhams in Worcester High Street revealed

A stunning artist's impression of what the site, at 67-71 High Street, could look like has also been released. 

The old Debenhams department store has remained empty and gathering dust after the plans for Artisan Food Hall never got off the ground. 

Now Nick Carroll Architects, the agent representing the freeholders, has unveiled their exciting vision for the building which will hopefully boost tourism in the city. 

PLANS: The exciting plans for 67-71 High Street (Image: Nick Carroll Architects)In a joint statement, given to the Worcester News, he said: "We are pleased to announce that we have been instructed to submit ambitious plans for a hotel on the upper levels of 67/71 High Street, Worcester, which will also explore the options of extending the existing building upward.

"We are excited to be progressing the transformation of this iconic city centre building which we firmly believe will support and regenerate the vitality of this core location.

"We are aware that commercial occupiers are being sort for the ground and basement floors with marketing materials to be circulated shortly.

SITE: The former Debenhams in High Street (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

"Our first exciting image will no doubt develop throughout the planning process so further updates will follow. The hard work starts now."

The artists' impressions shows a building transformed with a gold/yellow façade and the building extended upwards.

Mr Carroll, whose office is based in nearby Broad Street, Worcester, said an operator was being sought to run the hotel for the upper levels.

EXCITING: Nick Carroll outside the location (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)He said the pre-planning application was "in motion" with an application potentially coming forward in the next few months as the freeholders wanted it all to come to fruition "as soon as possible". 

He said signs on the door relating to Artisan Food Hall would be taken soon and added "positive talks" had already been held with the council over the plans.

We reported recently enforcement notices appeared on the windows of what was once Debenhams, the department store chain which has now been liquidated.

Plans for the food hall were first confirmed back in April 2021 which was originally tipped to be a nine-month transformation project of the former Debenhams store.

INSIDE: The inside of 67-71 High Street (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

The first floor was earmarked for Canteen Society with plans for pop-up chefs and creators to fill the space.

The second floor was going to feature a city garden once completed and a space that could be hired for events, weddings, parties, and gigs every weekend.

Artisan released an image of completed work on a planned Zinc bar inside the venue in June 2022 on its Instagram account.

But we took pictures from the windows outside earlier this week showing it looked very different inside, with surfaces looking dusty, lights appearing to have been taken out and the room generally untidy.