"POWICK Hospital could be turned into a hotel if plans submitted to Malvern Hills District Council are approved," reported the Malvern Gazette 25 years ago.

"The outline application from West Midlands Regional Health Authority includes proposals to turn the main block of the 1850s building into a hotel - retaining at least the south-facing facade.

"Apartments and sheltered accommodation for the elderly are also discussed in the accompanying report from architects J Madin Design Group, along with the retention of the chapel and ambulance training centre within the 16.9 hectare site and the possibility of a light industrial unit.

"Last year a government health team recommended the hospital be closed by 1988 and its 144 mentally-ill patients integrated into the community."

The idea was backed in principle by Malvern Hills District Council's tourism and leisure services officer Mike Cresswell.

He said: "Powick would be the ideal site for a new hotel, lying as it does about halfway between Malvern and Worcester. Malvern could do with another big hotel that could deal with conference guests."

And Toby Bruce-Morgan, who was both a former health authority chairman, and Powick's county councillor, said: "I am all for the general approach to this because there is no point in the health authority keeping on an old site they don't really need.

"But having looked at the plans I am most concerned that the highways aspect has not been catered for at all. When discussions started over what to do with the site one of the main causes of concern was the possible increase in traffic emerging onto the very busy Malvern to Worcester road."