CALLS are being made for Worcester's £150 million John Lewis-led shopping plaza plan to be dumped - in favour of a hospital extension.

An ex-mayor has upped the ante over the Worcester Woods saga by saying the acres of fields should be used by Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

The UK's biggest developer Land Securities wants to build a huge out-of-town retail park on the Newtown Road site, with a planning application due to be voted on within weeks.

But Councillor Gareth Jones, a veteran Conservative, says as the land sits adjacent to the royal it should earmarked by NHS use instead before it is too late.

The royal faces regular parking shortages and the complications of having to cope with up to 28,370 new homes being built across south Worcestershire by 2030, heaping on the pressure.

Councillor Jones, who is against the shopping park plans, said: "The hospital site is too tight and it needs to grow.

"We've got the South Worcestershire Development Plan with 28,000 homes to 2030 - the hospital can't cope with the existing population but the new inflow from that will be awesome.

"It's the only land adjacent to the site where it could expand - we've got to look 15, 20 even 30 years ahead.

"Personally I think it's the wrong place for a shopping park anyway, they are talking about a 'destination shopping site'.

"It's well known that the hospital needs more land, you can't find a parking space a lot of the time.

"I just think that land is the natural expansion area for the hospital."

The suggestion has led to bosses at Worcestershire's Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the site, saying it wants to gain some extra parking from the shopping park plan.

A trust spokesman said: "The trust welcomes the investment this project will bring to the area.

"We're hoping the development will include some additional car parking opportunities for staff and visitors to our site, pending planning permission.

"We will however closely monitor the impact the potential development has on access to our health services."

Land Securities, which is facing severe opposition from city centre traders, has defended its plan.

Development director Chris Fleetwood said: "Land Securities is seeking permission for the development of retail space on the site in question, which will help boost Worcester's economy.

"The introduction of John Lewis at-home and other leading furniture and home retailers will help to stem the losses the local economy faces all year round, estimated at £115 million, as people decide to shop elsewhere.

"Worcester Woods is about bringing good quality jobs and investment to the local economy and making sure local residents spend as much of their money in the city as possible."

The out-of-town complex, which would create 551 jobs, is for 13 shopping units spread across 394,000 square foot, one third of the entire city centre retail floor space.

A 30,000 sq ft Marks & Spencer, 60,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s with an eight-pump petrol station and Next Home and Garden outlet will accompany the £7 million 40,000 sq ft John Lewis store, with the promise of more to come.

Worcester City Council's planning committee is expected to vote on it over the coming weeks.