A SERIES of changes have been made to Worcester's proposed £150 million John Lewis-led retail park - in a last-ditch bid to get it accepted.

Your Worcester News can reveal how Land Securities, the nation's biggest developer, has amended its planning application over the big Worcester Woods project off Newtown Road.

The alterations come as the massive scheme is widely expected to be voted on this spring, and includes:

- Changes to the access to ease any concerns over traffic congestion, including a new dedicated left-turn lane at a roundabout connecting Newtown Road with the A4440

- A new public footpath to run alongside the relocated bridleway following a plea from the Open Space Society

- Two biodiverse roofs, which offer environmental benefits by attracting flora and creating unusual habitats for wildlife, to mirror the surrounding landscape

The footpath would run along the entire eastern boundary of the site and comes after open space campaigners argued the development did not encourage walking or quality access around it.

And the changes to the highway follows detailed talks with Worcestershire County Council last year about the possible impact of the park taking off.

The third notable change, the biodiverse roofing, was put together to show the city council it will be a genuine 'green' development true to the woods' roots.

The amendments are an indication that the big scheme, which is being hotly-disputed by city centre retailers, is nearing some sort of conclusion.

The likely date being put on a possible vote at Worcester City Council's planning committee just before Christmas was Thursday, March 24, but nothing has been confirmed and it could be pushed back to April.

As well as a John Lewis At Home store, Land Securities has signed up Marks & Spencer, Next Home and Garden and Sainsbury's to the 13-unit plaza bid, saying it will create around 551 full-time equivalent jobs once full.

City centre retailers are objecting, saying it will damage trade, but the developer is arguing that around £115 million is being "lost" from Worcester to rival shopping destinations like Cheltenham and Birmingham in the battle for customers.

Chris Fleetwood, the firm's development director, says it will "complement rather than directly compete with the city centre" and insists the city faces "losing more trade to its regional rivals" unless the overall Worcester offer improves.

A crucial, independent council-commissioned study revealing the likely knock-on impact for the city centre is expected to be published imminently.