Plans for neglected 'eyesore' pub welcomed in city

Neighbour Christopher Hall said the building had been an eyesore for many years

An "eyesore" former city centre pub is set to be given a new lease of life after plans to convert it into flats were approved.

The proposals for the building, known as the Little Sauce Factory, on the corner of London Road and Fort Royal Hill, Worcester, have also been backed by residents.

The city council's conservation officer welcomed the proposal to "do something with this much-neglected building" and the authority approved them.

"The application site is a gateway into the city," a council report said, adding that the plans were "very much to be welcomed".

Applicant Peter Styles sought consent to upgrade the building and turn it into five flats while making "minimal changes to its appearance".

Neighbour Christopher Hall said the "well thought-out" proposal offered much-needed housing, adding that the building had been "an eyesore when entering the city via London Road for many years".

He said: "Not only is it a detriment to the local character, it provides a negative impression of the city."

Another resident, Karen O'Callaghan, also urged Mr Styles to repaint a wall near the entrance to a car park to remove graffiti.

"It would be wonderful to allow for the improvement of that wall to give permission for it to be used as a feature wall at the Worcester Paint Festival," she added.

Resident Karen O'Callaghan also called for a wall to be repainted to remove graffiti

Previously called the Fort Royal Inn, the pub became part of Mad O'Rourke's Little Pub Company group in the 1990s and was renamed The Little Sauce Factory.

The pub closed in 2008 and the following year became Pete's Indian Restaurant before closing in 2014.

The building was then a shop called The Carpet Factory until 2016 and, since then, it has been empty.

The building is not listed but sits within the Sidbury and Fort Royal conservation area.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.