DISRUPTION to the construction industry brought on by the coronavirus lockdown looks to have caused a fresh delay to a plan to build 98 flats in the city centre.

The plan by Worcester Developments Ltd, which would see a number of old buildings opposite St Martin’s Gate car park in Worcester – currently used for car valeting and repairs – demolished to make way for the six-storey building, has been hit with several delays after being approved in 2016.

The latest delay follows widespread disruption following the introduction of social distancing and lockdown measures by the government in March to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Worcester Developments Ltd, which had its wish granted to extend the date on which work must at least start until January 2021 by Worcester City Council’s planning committee last year, has asked again for the deadline to be pushed back until April 2022.

Pushing the deadline back would “allow a longer time period for construction to commence within which it is hoped that some normality is restored to the construction industry,” a letter sent to the council requesting the change said.

“It will also move the end date away from the Christmas and New Year period during which, even under normal circumstances, it is challenging to commence construction projects.”

Worcester Developments Ltd had asked for that condition to be deleted which meant a building must be erected as soon as demolition work has finished but a compromise between the developer and city council planners put a January 2021 deadline for work to begin.

Planning permission for the flats was approved by the council in July 2016 and signed off in January 2018.

The developer than asked in March last year for that condition to be removed which, it was said, would untangle some of the complex contracts and archaeological work to allow for demolition to take place and the development to progress.

Under the old planning permission, a contract needed to be in place before any buildings were knocked down.