A new concept for the vital Northgate Project was revealed today (Wednesday) by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The authority is to take control of the project after terminating its long standing agreement with ING Real Estate Developers.

Although retail-led– to help Chester regain its place as a premier ‘shopping city ‘the Council’s concept envisages:-

•    Greater leisure content, including a multiplex cinema and more restaurants.
•    A central market and new, improved library.
•    Substantial Major Store Units to satisfy modern retail requirements, in a range of ‘higher end’ unit sizes – avoiding competition with existing unit sizes-including a full line department store and food and beverage space.
•    A new approach to bus provision
•    A high quality city centre parking- both underground and multi-story.
•    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 concept scheme would provide and estimated 1600 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.

Said Councillor Herbert Manley, Executive Member, Prosperity: “The concept provides a vision for the progress, which Chester so badly needs.

“A considerable amount of work remains to develop a scheme which 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 advisors, we consider that risk manageable.” Said Councillor Manley, a member of the management group.

DTZ – one of the world’s largest property services specialists – consider Chester to be one of the region’s key city centre development opportunities.

White Young Green in the Cheshire Retail Update, 2011, estimate that spending in Chester City Centre, currently equates to £730 million.

The leading planning consultants project an additional £143 million at 2015 and £375, million at 2021.Based on a rent role of £20m, the scheme would expect to generate annual rates in the region of £9million.

Said Councillor Ben Powell, Opposition Regeneration spokesman: “Despite the current negative economic climate Chester’s regional retail offer is still ranked in the top ‘blue chip’ category.

“The inescapable conclusion is that there is both a demand and an overriding economic need for Northgate. It is incumbent on the working group to ensure that the final concept is sensitive to the needs of our many stakeholders”.

Added Councillor Powell, also a member of the Northgate working group “We cannot stand still. Given the strong regional competition, we must act on Northgate to ensure that 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.

Reversion to underground Servicing has provided the flexibility which enhances the possibility of an onsite solution to the replacement of the Market.