A NEW gourmet burger restaurant is coming to Worcester under plans to revamp a rail archway.

Hereford-based investors, who own a business called 'A Rule of Tum', want to open a new restaurant called Burger Shop Arches in Cherry Tree Walk.

The move has been backed by Worcester City Council's planning committee, who say it will help regenerate the area and offer even more choice in the flourishing restaurant offer.

The owners of Rule of Tum already have one Burger Shop outlet in Hereford, which has become well-established, as well as a restaurant and bar called The Bookshop.

Network Rail has also given the Worcester eatery its backing, saying the move will help make good use of an archway in poor condition.

The planning committee voted it through despite some objections from nearby residents, who tried to argue it was too close to their homes.

Shane Lennon, who lives in Walsgrove Court, said: "The rear of the archway is just six metres from our nearest window.

"Residents around here will have to keep their windows and doors closed.

"It's totally unacceptable in my view, the applicants haven't grasped the fact they want to move into a residential area."

He said many people living in the flats feared a "foul smell" lingering across their homes from an exhaust stack.

But Edwin Kirk, Rule of Tum owner, said: "We want to work with local residents, we don't want to cause any trouble.

"We'll do everything in our power to make that's not the case."

The committee approved it, subject to final details being agreed on issues like bin storage, the position of the exhaust stack and a site management plan.

Councillor Geoff Williams, the committee's vice-chairman, said: "The introduction of this type of use into the arches is a good step forward in the regeneration of the city.

"We've seen this type of thing elsewhere, in London.

"But we need to get it right and ensure that whatever standards we agree, they are rigorous and enforceable."

Councillor Chris Cawthorne said the new restaurant, along with CCTV in the area, should make it safer and "much more pleasant than it is now".

Burger Shop Arches will open from noon-11pm Monday to Saturday and noon-10pm on Sundays.

It will create 13 full-time jobs, with the restaurant able to seat 60 people.

A council report on the move calls it "the first in a series of upgrades of Worcester’s railway arches" to protect the city's heritage.

You can find out more about A Rule of Tum here.