DEVELOPERS who created a large yellow self-storage building described as a “monstrosity” say they intend to keep it the same colour.

The owners of the Stock N Lock Self Storage Centre at Venture Business Park, off Bromwich Road, Worcester, say it would cost too much to change and that yellow is “integral to the brand”.

They have decided to put up a green screen across the building and are doing extensive planting to part-block it from nearby residents.

The developers have told council planners it would cost £65,000 to paint it grey, and that it would need to be re-done every four years.

Nearby residents, who have formed a campaign body called Bromwich Road Action Group (BRAG) were leading the calls for a re-think with 40 people signing a petition.

But Lansdowne Rodway Estates, the firm behind the building, say it is “impractical and cost restrictive” to change it.

Re-cladding the unit has also been rejected on the basis it would cost the company £250,000 plus additional compensation to five companies contracted to carry out the internal fit-out, who would have to delay their work if re-cladding were to take place.

A letter from managing director Charles Rodway to the council says the changes “would not be commercially viable”.

It says “specialist paint” would be needed to cover the yellow-fabricated cladding which would require topping up “every three to four years”, costing upwards of £650,000 over 40 years.

The letter also says that “the colour yellow has over the last 15 years been increasingly identified with self-storage, which you can see from the branding of companies such as the Big Yellow Self Storage Company”.

Approval for the Aztec yellow, 8m high unit was granted by Worcester City Council in January 2008.

After complaints about its colour, members of the planning committee said they could not remember what they gave permission for.

Minutes from the meeting four-and-a-half years ago only mention the colour being yellow.

The developer’s response to the planning committee’s enquiry as to whether it would be feasible to change the colour of the building will be discussed at the council’s planning committee on Thursday.

The committee is expected to approve a minor amendment to allow the roller shutters and doors to be blue.