Additional £2m spend on regeneration project

An additional £2m has been committed to the regeneration of part of Worcester city centre.

The funds for the city's Shrub Hill Quarter are to complete the transformation of Isaac Maddox House into a new enterprise centre.

The former NHS office building in Shrub Hill Road has fallen into disrepair after being empty for about six years.

Its renovation is part of a joint project between Worcestershire County Council and Worcester City Council to turn it into a mix of office and commercial space.

The regeneration plans aim to create hundreds of new homes and jobs overall.

Although £1.3m of a government grant has already been spent on the scheme, detailed designs revealed the remaining £5.9m would not be enough to finish it.

At a full Worcestershire County Council meeting on Thursday, councillors agreed an additional £2m should be added to the capital programme, found from one-off savings in the economy and infrastructure budget.

Councillor Jabba Riaz, whose Rainbow Hill and Fort Royal ward covers Shrub Hill, welcomed the council's continued commitment.

"It's vital that this landmark project in a run-down area of Worcester gets the investment to bring in jobs," he said.

"It is much-needed in this area of the city and in these economic circumstances."

The Labour member added he was grateful to Reform UK cabinet member for business and skills Alan Amos for "championing the project".

In the meeting, Tory group leader Adam Kent said: "We shouldn't be frightened of investing capital in this county."

Meanwhile fellow Conservative Dan Birch said it was important to start thinking about who would fill the building when it was finished.

Finance chief councillor Rob Wharton said market research had shown there was a demand for the space being created at Isaac Maddox House.

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

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