NEW proposals for a massive development in Chester city centre have been revealed.
The new concept for the Northgate Project was announced by Cheshire West and Chester Council after the authority dropped its long term partner ING Real Estate after the ill-fated scheme failed to get off the ground after the deal was struck in 2000.
Although retail-led, in a bid to help Chester regain its place as a premier ‘shopping city’, the council’s concept includes:
l Greater leisure content, including a multiplex cinema and more restaurants.
l A central market and new library.
l Major store units to satisfy modern retail requirements, in a range of ‘higher end’ unit sizes – avoiding competition with existing unit sizes – including a department store and food and drink space.
l A new approach to bus provision.
l High quality city centre
parking, both underground and multi-storey.
l And underground servicing allowing greater planning design flexibility.
Vital to the council’s regeneration programme, and its emerging ‘One City’ Plan, Northgate, will play a major role in helping to restore Chester’s national and international status as a top shopping city.
The scheme would provide an estimated 1,600 permanent jobs within the scheme itself, plus a large number of temporary construction jobs.
Over the next few months a cross party working group will prepare a detailed feasibility and viability assessment, together with the preparation of a detailed scheme and business case to be reported to the executive in the summer.
Cllr Herbert Manley, executive member for prosperity and a member of the management group, said: “The concept provides a vision for the progress, which Chester so badly needs.
“A considerable amount of work remains to develop a scheme that will generate the support and ‘buy in’ to move forward to the planning stage.
“There is a risk to going it alone but after detailed consideration
and recommendations from our professional national advisers, we consider that risk manageable.”
Property services specialist DTZ considers Chester to be one
of the region’s key city centre development opportunities.
White Young Green in the Cheshire Retail Update, 2011, estimates spending in Chester city centre currently equates to £730 million.
The planning consultant projects an additional £143 million in 2015 and £375 million in 2021.
Based on a rent role of £20 million, the scheme would expect to generate annual rates in the region of £9 million.
Cllr Ben Powell, opposition regeneration spokesman, said: “Despite the current negative economic climate Chester’s regional retail offer is still ranked in the top ‘blue chip’ category.
“The inescapable conclusion is there is both a demand and an overriding economic need for Northgate.
“It is incumbent on the working group to ensure the final concept is sensitive to the needs of our many stakeholders.”
Cllr Powell, also a member of the Northgate working group, added: “We cannot stand still.
“Given the strong regional competition, we must act on Northgate to ensure the city can compete with the best.”
The new scheme will be sensitive to Chester’s historic environment ensuring a joined up approach for The Northgate Project, theatre, Town Hall Square and Cathedral Precinct.