Chester set for city centre regeneration

Developer Cheshire West and Chester Council have submitted plans to develop the Northgate area of the city centre with a retail-led, mixed-use development.

Known as the Chester Northgate Scheme, it will deliver around 46,500m² of new retail, restaurant and leisure facilities to be built over two phases of construction.

Phase one which is forecast to start in autumn 2017 will see the development of two restaurants within the shell of the current library building, a new market hall replacing the current Chester Market, a six screen cinema and a new, 167 bedroom 4 star hotel and conference centre.

The second phase of construction will see the construction of the main retail mall, a department store and some residential apartments.

Council Leader Samantha Dixon said: “This application marks an important milestone in the development of a scheme that will revitalise the Northgate area of the city.

“Northgate has the potential to mark a step change improvement in what Chester has to offer residents and visitors alike and will help create over 1,000 new job opportunities”.

Opposition spokesperson Councillor Stuart Parker added: “I am delighted that the Council is now ready to submit this major planning application which I believe can be a game changer for Chester city centre.

David Lewis Managing Director of Rivington Land, the Council’s appointed Development Manager said: “We are at a point where we have sufficient confidence in the commercial market prospects of the Northgate Scheme to advise the Council to make this application for a major redevelopment of the city centre.

“We have worked hard with the Council and consultees to fine tune the detailed design of Chester Northgate to ensure the best possible fit with the city’s needs and the demands of retailers and other commercial interests”.

Once the planning application has been lodged there will be a formal 16-week period of statutory consultation on the scheme proposals leading to a decision by the planning committee in early autumn.