HERITAGE watchdogs have slammed a planned £75m revamp of the Lowesmoor conservation zone by saying it will "obliterate" the character of the area.

Worcester Civic Society - the guardian of city history - has penned a letter attacking the development over claims it endangers "a nationally significant" piece of history.

The criticism is a major setback for the much-heralded project, which promises to create 1,000 jobs by building a thriving shopping centre based around supermarket giant ASDA. In total, 15 new shops and 13 new apartments are planned along Silver Street, while the historic vinegar works will become a Territorial Army base.

The vinegar works was, from the mid-19th Century, the biggest of its type in the world. By the early 20th Century owner Hill, Evans and Co, was producing two million gallons of malt vinegar per year.

The company ceased trading in 1965.

The civic society said that the interests of the vinegar works would "hardly be served" by becoming an Army base and insisted that "a more imaginative and public use" should be found.

It wants a debate about the merits of having a new ASDA rather than a variety of "smaller shops".

It said: "Particular losses would be the courtyard buildings around the surfing fragments of a pottery kiln of the otherwise vanished Grainger's Porcelain factory, the Wine Warehouse at the beginning of the street between the Counting House and the vinegar house, and large brick buildings which currently present an impressive industrial facade to Pheasant Street.

"The last of these goes in favour of a multi-storey car park for the exclusive use of ASDA customers."

The society said any development should "enhance" the conservation zone - and wants core buildings retained as they stand.

The plans have been defended by the city council, which insists the development is vital for regeneration.

The project is a top priority for the council - almost as important as the future university library and revamping the riverside.

Leader Coun Simon Geraghty said: "We've got to balance historic needs against commercial reality.

"We really want to see the area brought up to standard - Lowesmoor is crying out for new development.

"We don't want to end up with no development, otherwise we could see Lowesmoor derelict for years to come."

As reported in the Worcester News in June, Councillor Dave Clark was the first person to doubt the merits of the project when he said a vital part of Worcester's heritage would be lost.

The city council has yet to fix a date for the plans to come before a planning committee to be discussed.

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