“Much needed affordable housing” will be built above a coffee shop in Worcester city centre.

Developers had wanted to build eight flats above Starbucks in The Cross but revised their plans after concerns were raised by planning officers.

1 Oak Ltd submitted an application last year to erect eight flats above the coffee shop.

But Worcester City Council planners didn’t like the design of the roof extension and had concerns over the proposed room sizes.

An amended scheme was then submitted addressing the concerns, reducing the number of flats to five one-bedroom homes.

Planning officers said, in their decision report: “With regards to the revised design, the proposals now introduce an upward extension with dormer style windows at both front and rear.

“The development is proposed to be parking-free and the proposed flats would be accessed off a separate entrance to the existing Starbucks café.”

The council’s housing team said the development would provide “much needed affordable housing in the city”.

“These developments are a successful way of ensuring that redundant space above shops can be brought into effective use for the local community,” they said in their consultation response.

“The city centre is a sustainable location for development and the properties are located on The Cross, a busy shopping street within the city.”

Worcestershire Regulatory Services said the flue from Yummy’s - a neighbouring takeaway - appeared to be “some distance” from the proposed flats and so had no objection to the application “in terms of odour”.

The county council, as the highways authority, also raised no objection to the scheme.

It said because of the “sustainable” location of the development and the number of flats being built, no parking spaces are needed.

But it added that parking for bicycles should be provided if it is practical to do so.

Worcester Civic Society had been in support of the application, saying: “The civic society supports the principle of residential uses in town centres as a positive approach to town centre management, growth and adaptation.

“It is welcomed, and supported that no/minor changes are sought to the elevation of the building to clean and repair the existing facade."