PLANS for a 2,500 strong student hub have been submitted to council planning chiefs.
A sports hall, basketball and badminton courts and ecology ponds are the latest facilities planned as part of controversial proposals by Bell Developments to create Chester’s first-ever student village on the outskirts of the city.
Bell submitted its application to Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) on Friday, for the village, full-sized football pitch and trim trail following a final round of public consultation this month.
The student village development is proposed for greenbelt land dividing Blacon and Mollington and has been met with fierce opposition by campaigners fighting to preserve the Green Belt.
Members of the Poets Corner Residents’ Association, Blacon, were joined by Chester MP Stephen Mosley, local councillors and residents for a mass protest close to the proposed site. Campaigners also intend to take their case to the Secretary of State if the plan is approved by CWaC.
Residents have metrepresentatives from Bell Developments during public consultation events across the city to discuss issues and concerns in relation to the proposal.
The multi-million pound proposals, if approved, will start in 2013, with the final phase completed by 2015.