RESIDENTS in Warndon Villages concerned about plans for a 2,915 sq m development have claimed a new business park in the city would be a more suitable location.

The Worcester News has previously reported that people in the area are concerned about the potential impact of a planning application by technology firm GTech for a large new headquarters at land near the Grade I-listed St Nicholas Church.

Many against the plans have said they believe the £120 million Worcester 6 development at land off junction six of the M5 – formerly known as Worcester Technology Park – would be a more suitable location.

GTech Chief Executive Nick Grey has said he had been told the site would not be available within the company’s required timescale of summer 2016. But residents have said they do not believe this is correct – with some saying they had been told land at Worcester 6 would be available from next summer.

Mr Grey said the technology park was the first place the company looked at when it was seeking a site for its new headquarters and had previously made an offer to purchase a plot.

“Unfortunately the scheme is still years from completion and we were told it would not be ready in time as we need somewhere next summer (2016),” he said.

“As a new roundabout and other roads need to be built and services put in, it seems unlikely the site will be occupied until at least 2018 and construction may not be complete until around 2030.”

But Gerard Ludlow, director at Birmingham-based developer Stowford – which was handed responsibility for the development by The Spetchley Estate last summer – said at least some of the site would be available next year.

“We’ve been working hard to deliver planning consent for the park that allows a phased delivery of buildings on the site,” he said.

“We are procuring infrastructure and roads for the park which will be completed by the middle or end of 2016.

“Should an occupier step forward interested in a prelet we believe we can deliver a finished building by the middle or end of 2016.”

To view the plans visit worcester.gov.uk and search for application P15P0013.