THE replacement for a warehouse which was destroyed in a huge fire will be discussed at the Guildhall next week.

Arndale Properties Ltd wants to rebuild the Arrow XL warehouse at the Blackpole East trading estate on Blackpole Road.

The building was gutted after it caught fire a year ago in a blaze that was tackled by 70 firefighters.

If approved and built it will again be used by logistics company Arrow XL.

The new building would be slightly larger both in height and footprint “in order to meet with modern operational requirements.”

Arrow XL wants to use the warehouse for its ’two-man’ delivery service where they take large household items directly to the consumer on behalf of companies including Amazon, Asda and Shop Direct.

Goods will arrive at the new warehouse in the early morning in large articulated trucks, be processed and then distributed in smaller lorries through the day.

The report to Worcester City Councillors said: “Arrow XL is proposing to operate a near identical operation to that previously in use at the site prior to the fire.

"The increased floorspace being proposed is to be used for additional long-term storage of goods.

"The ‘two-man’ delivery operation would therefore be unaffected by the increase in floor area - the daily operation of the site will not intensify.”

The building caught fire on April 20, with fire crews from Redditch and Bromsgrove drafted in to help.

All staff working in the building were safely evacuated and there were no injuries.

The report to members of the planning committee by city council officers say clearance work of the remnants of the destroyed warehouse has begun and that some contaminants have been discovered.

Nevertheless the report recommends that the plans be approved subject to a number of conditions including an investigating and monitoring possible contamination of soil and groundwater.

The committee meeting begins at 1.30pm on Thursday.