Planning permission - Chester Northgate project

Client: Cheshire West and Chester Council
Location: Chester
Discipline(s):

GL Hearn was instructed by Cheshire West and Chester Council as part of the development management team led by Rivington Land and Acme (architects) to obtain planning permission for the revised Chester Northgate project. The proposed scheme contains circa 80,000 sq m of retail-led mixed use development, including up to 120 new homes in the heart of the historic city centre. The Council owns around 85 per cent of the 6 ha site.

The scheme includes the relocation of an existing 167-bed hotel and indoor market as a first phase of development, as well as refurbishment to Chester’s Listed Town Hall.  The existing hotel together with the Forum shopping centre and several other buildings will be demolished in 2019, so that work can then begin on the second phase of construction to create the main retail offer, department store and new homes.

Given the very historical nature of the built and below ground environment, a hybrid planning application (part detailed part outline) was promoted to ensure that the historic environment is protected whilst sufficient commercial flexibility is allowed for.  The proposals are also the subject of an Environmental Impact Assessment (managed by GL Hearn).

The submission follows an extensive period of pre-application led by GL Hearn’s Strategic Communication team which included close liaison with Historic England amongst other stakeholders.

The five necessary planning permissions and Listed Building Consents were secured in September 2016.  The CPO process has commenced and the team is now progressing submissions for the scheme’s detailed design.  If the CPO is approved, completion and opening is anticipated in 2021.

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