The Proposals

Planning permission (part detailed, part outline) for the redevelopment of “City Place” was granted in April 2014 for an employment-led scheme.

As part of this permission, development parameters were set controlling the extent of development blocks, the point of access and building height.

The outline permission secured for the site has now expired.

The site was first identified for potential office use around 15 years ago and planning permission for an employment-led, mixed-use development for “City Place” was secured in April 2014.

To date, only around one fifth of the permitted office floorspace has been delivered following completion of the One City Place office building.

The original planning permission has now expired, presenting an opportunity for the future of the site to be considered.

Demand for office space has weakened following the Covid-19 pandemic, and longstanding viability issues also continue to prevent the delivery of new office space across the city.

The bulk of demand is for small scale office space, with much of this coming from existing firms expanding or contracting.

Cheshire West and Chester’s own evidence also confirms that the average size requirement for office space in the city centre has reduced significantly since the pandemic as firms shift to hybrid working patterns and require less space.

Residential development is more deliverable in the current market and would enable the site to be redeveloped in the short term, helping to meet an unmet need for more affordable homes in Chester.

More evidence regarding this is being prepared by the project team and will be submitted as part of the planning application.

There remains an unmet need for affordable housing in Cheshire West and Chester.

The Council’s latest calculation of affordable housing identified a requirement for the delivery of 714 affordable homes per year.

However, only 373 affordable homes have been delivered on average per year, over the period 2010-24.

This suggests an ongoing need for more affordable to meet the Council’s current affordable housing requirements.

The proposed development will be delivered as ‘affordable private rent’, as per the following definition of the National Planning Policy Framework: “rent is set in accordance with the Government’s rent policy for Affordable Rent, or is at least 20% below local market rents”.

The proposals will incorporate an element of parking with electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EV), however this will be limited in order to capitalise on the site’s excellent accessibility to the city centre and sustainable transport modes.

Cycle parking will be provided on a 1:1 basis with the number of apartments.

Visitor cycle parking will also be available in the landscaped areas.

A green landscaped garden will sit at the heart of the scheme for residents and a new pedestrian and cycle route towards the Shot Tower footbridge will also be created.

There is a commitment to achieve a minimum 10% biodiversity net-gain, improving connection to nature and supporting local species.