A TAKEAWAY will be demolished to make way for a new path between the city centre and the River Severn as part of the city council's multi-million-pound Arches project.

Worcester City Council has revealed its latest plans to transform the city's Arches into a cultural destination which includes demolishing chicken shop Jaqk's to connect Worcester Foregate Street with the Hive and the rest of the riverside.

The three-phase work, which would see the University of Worcester sublet five of the arches to the city council to be refurbished, would then be followed by two more arches in Netherton Court getting refurbished before the takeaway is demolished to create a wider and clearer route from Worcester Foregate Street to the riverside.

A report, which will be discussed by the council's policy and resources committee next week, said the council has made offers to all the parties involved with the takeaway in Foregate Street and compensation has been agreed with Jaqk's owner Aqeel Mohammed but discussions continue with the other parties.

The council has also said that if negotiations collapse then it may be forced to use its compulsory purchase powers to make sure the building is taken over and demolished and the transformation work to the city's Arches continues.

The council said it has around £410,000 already set aside for buying and demolishing the chicken shop but admits the current budget will unlikely cover the plan and will likely need more money in the future.

In order to go down the route of compulsory purchase of the takeaway, the council will need to show it has the money available.

The owner of Jakq's did not respond to our request for comment.

The council's policy and resources committee meets next Tuesday (July 28) to decide.