COUNCIL chiefs are due to rule next week on plans to finally drive forward a £460 million city centre regeneration scheme.
The Cheshire West and Chester Council’s (CWaC) executive will meet in private on Wednesday to discuss commercially-sensitive options involving the long-awaited Northgate Development Project.
In 2008, the original Northgate project stalled after being judged unviable in a depressed financial climate, and a new retail-based development was proposed.
But the council and its development partners ING Real Estate Development have been unable to move forward since that date and the authority is to review the situation.
CWaC executive member for prosperity, Cllr Herbert Manley, said: “Northgate is absolutely essential to Chester’s development as a quality retail and visitor centre.
“Yet despite a good working relationship with our partners, neither the former Chester City Council nor the current authority have been able to progress.
“Circumstances, frequently the financial climate, seem to have conspired against us. However, we have reached the point when major decisions have to be taken for the good of the city and future generations.”
He added: “Nothing will be decided until members have carefully considered all the alternatives but the council is committed to the scheme and able to play a more proactive role should that be required.”
While its historic assets remain a major attraction, the city has fallen behind in the retail hierarchy, losing ground to major competitors such as Liverpool One, calculated to take about 10.5 per cent of Chester’s market share.
Cllr Manley said: “Further delays can only threaten our chances of a successful regeneration in time to compete with our ambitious neighbours.”
The former Chester City Council initiated the original Northgate Development Scheme more than decade ago.