DECADE-LONG aspirations to create a multi-million-pound university science, health and enterprise hub in the city look to have ended with the submission of a plan to build new homes on the land.

The University of Worcester has put forward a plan to build 120 homes on its University Park site off Bromyard Road in Worcester after failing to attract enough interest from business partners to fulfill its dream of building the £100 million hub.

The university bought the 27-acre site from Tesco in 2009 with the goal of transforming it into the 2,000-job creating hub but the plans never came to fruition.

The university has since spent millions on other major plans such as the Hive and University Arena in Hylton Road - and the redevelopment of the former County Furnishings building into Castle Street - before putting the plans at University Park on hold.

A university spokesman said: “When the university purchased the ‘Grove Farm’ land, back in 2009, extensive efforts were made to seek business partners to develop the site as a university science, health and enterprise park.

"Unfortunately, despite strenuous efforts, there was insufficient interest to develop the entire site, although a doctors’ surgery, sheltered housing and nursing home were created and thrive to this day.

“The planning context then changed with the development of Worcester Six and the adoption of the South Worcestershire Development Plan. These developments have left the university with no alternative but to dispose of this now surplus land. This planning application is part of that process."