Go-ahead for 'eyesore' shopping centre demolition

A near-abandoned Worcestershire shopping centre which has been described as an eyesore is set to be demolished - in the hope the site can be given a new lease of life.

Wychavon District Council's planning committee has voted in favour of knocking down the Riverside Shopping Centre in Evesham.

The intention is to clear the land for a mixed-use residential, retail and leisure attraction.

Councillor Emma Kearsey, deputy leader and the cabinet member responsible for planning, said: "I'm very confident we'll be doing this extremely diligently, for the people of Evesham."

The centre was built in 1988 and has more than 40 units, but has suffered years of decline and is all-but deserted.

The last remaining business, a Home Bargains store, had already been given notice to leave, as had a telecommunications firm operating a mast on top of the building.

The demolition, which includes knocking down the six-storey car park, was approved unanimously by the committee.

Kearsey said: "We are most certainly doing it properly - this site is extremely important from a historical perspective."

Councillor Charlie Homer called it Evesham's "least loved building", adding: "The council has been on a listening exercise - residents have told us what they wanted, and this is the first step towards that."

During a debate, councillor Emma Simms said she was worried about the site "being left in a state", and asked how long the demolition would take.

Rebecca Buckley, the council's site delivery lead, said demolition work was expected to start in April 2027 and take about a year, with the land levelled off and made secure.

"The intention is not for that area to remain vacant - this is part of a clear vision for Wychavon to redevelop that site," she said.

"We're working at pace and this site is not going to be left vacant in planning terms, [a new development] will come forward quickly."

Evesham Public Hall would be retained and refurbished as part of a wider regeneration project, while any listed buildings or other heritage assets would be protected.

The scheduled ancient monument underneath the Riverside would also not be disturbed as part of the work, the council confirmed.

The council said it was working on the development with regeneration specialists at Savills.

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