AN "historic" former Worcester factory which sold ice for decades is being transformed into an apartment complex - saving the building.

Developers have secured a deal to revamp the crumbling old Ice Works site in Bromyard Road, St John's, which dates back to before 1900.

It means the building will be removed from Worcester City Council's 'heritage at risk register', delighting civic leaders.

Under the deal the main Ice Works building, which sits on an industrial estate, will be retained and converted, while a series of smaller workshops face demolition.

Two new apartments blocks will be built on the site but the Ice Works, an old Victorian mill, will carry on being the dominant building.

Droitwich-based RCA Regeneration wants to locate 54 apartments on the site, most of which will be in the six-storey high ice factory.

It was voted through by the city council's planning committee today despite some concern about the development not having any affordable homes.

Councillor Derek Prodger said: "This facility used to manufacture ice for refrigeration and sell it to the likes of butchers in substantial amounts.

"Over time it became redundant but it's got a long history - to be able to protect this building is applaudable.

"It's been empty for too long, it needs clearing up and I think this is commendable - what this building has done for Worcester is outstanding."

But Labour Councillor Geoff Williams tore into the plans, saying it would become "bleak" if all developers took the same stance on affordable homes.

"It's going to be bleak, if not impossible to secure social housing for these types of applications that come before us, it's a very serious situation," he said.

Planning officer Nick Kay said the developer had volunteered to do an independent "open book assessment" which concluded the scheme would be commercially unviable with properties below their true market value.

"The developer is getting 17.5 per cent profit on the scheme, below the 20 per cent most developers expect," he said.

"We also have this structure on the heritage at risk register and this will take it off it, which is another consideration.

"It's an historic asset."

Conservative Councillor Andy Stafford bemoaned the loss of another employment site but Mr Kay said if it didn't become housing, it would likely be pulled down.

Labour Councillor Pat Agar said: "I'm delighted to see the re-use of a locally significant building."

Tory Councillor Chris Mitchell added: "Looking at the properties being developed, I think it'll be outstanding and really attractive."

The developer is handing over a combined £125,000 towards open space, school places and transport, and will start the transformation within 12 months.

WHAT DID THE OLD ICE WORKS DO?

WORCESTER'S Ice Works factory started life as a watermill in the Victorian era in the late 1800s.

Historians say by the year 1900 it became a cold storage site and developed to become a thriving business, manufacturing ice.

In its heyday the factory complex, centred around the main Ice Works tower, sold ice to customers across the city such as butchers, cafes, food manufacturers and other businesses.

At one time there were several different cold storage companies on the site, but the main Ice Works became redundant more than 20 years ago.

There are some small workshops on the industrial estate still rented out now, but the main tower and other big units have long ceased to be in use.

The old factory is on the council's own 'heritage at risk' register and a separate one of 'buildings of local significance'.

A new firm was registered in 2014 to take the scheme forward called Ice Works Developments.