A NEW development of a block of 17 flats looks set to be approved in Malvern's Cowleigh Road.

The block is set to replace a former car showroom, last used by Malvern Tile Centre, and a Victorian villa at the junction with North Malvern Road and Trinity Road.

The shop closed after only six months in business and has been empty for nearly two years.

Cheltenham Builders Ltd is asking for permission to demolish the building, known as Scotland House, and replace it with a new four-storey building incorporating Victorian detailing.

The building would comprise 13 two-bedroom flats and four one-bedroom apartments. Its basement would provide parking for seven cars and an existing parking area for 10 cars behind the building would be kept in use.

Industrial buildings at the back of the site, which were used as a tyre and exhaust centre up until about three years ago, would also be demolished.

A previous application to build 15 flats on the site was refused in December 2002, after concerns were expressed that the old building should be preserved for its merit.

However MHDC planning officer Simon Jones said that after the applicants took it to appeal, the planning inspector said the building was not in a good enough state to merit preservation. He did ask that before full approval, the plans needed to show more detail and that they needed to be of imaginative, high quality design.

The latest drawings will be discussed by the council's southern area planning committee on Wednesday.

Mr Jones said: "This application has addressed previous concerns."

If plans are approved, the developer will be required to make a financial contribution towards local education provision of £27,846.