A WORCESTER bar and brasserie which had an expansion bid blocked last month has returned with new, scaled-down plans.

Bindles, which has been embroiled in a dispute with a cafe next door in Sidbury, is now expected to get the green light for a striking, glass-fronted expansion after downsizing its plans.

The latest plans, which will be voted on by Worcester City Council's planning committee on Thursday, include:

- The original 130-metre extension, designed as a bigger dining area, has been reduced to 123 metres

- A controversial rooftop terrace, which drew vociferous objections from Charlie's Cafe next door, will be just 12 square metres instead of a whopping 50 square metres

- An additional entrance will be located to the side of the extension so people have an extra option for entering the restaurant

- A fire exit, two extra parking spaces to handle any extra deliveries and more refuse storage around the back of the restaurant, as well as an agreement that a tree will be replaced

As your Worcester News revealed last month Charlie's Cafe, which has been trading next door for 28 years, says it will harm trade, cause more disturbance and result in overlooking.

At last month's planning meeting councillors agreed, with one even saying the glass extension could distract drivers heading down the City Walls Road.

But a new report on the downsized proposals has been recommended for approval by planning officers.

Senior planning officer Alan Coleman has called it "a satisfactory development", saying Bindles' has "significantly reduced" the size and scale of it.

Fran Fosh, who runs Charlie's Cafe, said she was still planning to attend the planning committee meeting to object.

She says allowing it to expand would make the building more attractive to large chains in future years.

"Trade around here is dead, but we've worked hard at developing a distinctive menu and a lot of our trade comes from the internet and TripAdvisor (the internet website)," she said.

"I don't want it (the current Bindles unit) to become a McDonald's or Costa coffee, that's the concern for me."

Agent Philip Rawle, who is arguing why the expansion should go ahead on behalf of Bindles, has called it a "relatively modest" attempt at growing a successful business.

"This is a good example of a local business seeking to improve its contribution to the local economy," he said.