LOCAL residents and business people are being given the chance to have their say on plans to transform a riverside area in Worcester.

Worcester City Council's cabinet agreed the draft development brief for the Copenhagen Street car park should go for public consultation.

Organisations, including English Heritage and the Civic Society, will also be asked for their views on the document, which recommends the area should be transformed into riverside apartments and a hotel or restaurant.

The cabinet also supported the view that there should be an architectural competition to find the best design for the development.

"This is the area of the moment," said council leader Councillor Stephen Inman. "It's a good idea to have a competition because someone out there should be able to produce what we want."

Coun Simon Geraghty said it was a good opportunity for the city to have a really high-profile building.

"Hopefully, this will be only one part of a scheme for this area. We want to see Worcester making better use of the riverside," he said.

English Heritage will be looking at the area because of its historical and archaeological significance.

Remains on the site are known to include the first Worcester porcelain factory, dating from 1751, the mediaeval riverside revetment and defensive wall, and a substantial part of a large mediaeval house at South Quay.