Work has started on the first phase of Chester’s £100m Central Business Quarter – the key to unlocking 3,500 new jobs by 2028.
Contractors, Eric Wright Civil Engineering – a leading force within the industry in North West – will deliver a 192- space car park for Network Rail on land bounded by the rear of Queen Hotel and Queen’s Road, over the next two months.
Delivered in partnership with Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales – it will release existing car parking to the East of the historic station to provide part of the landscaped entrance to the Business Quarter.
Said Councillor Stuart Parker, Executive Member for Culture and Economy: “This is one of the most significant developments in Chester’s recent history. The Business Quarter will drive Chester’s commercial offer and economic growth.”
Completion of the car park – for rail users and staff – will enable Muse Developments to begin construction work on a six-story, environmentally excellent office block providing 70,000 square feet of space by late 2015.
Muse Developments Director Phil Mayall, said: “City Place is of huge strategic importance to Chester and the region and we are very pleased to see the Council commence work on the public realm which takes us a significant step closer to delivering our exciting plans.”
Stage two of the scheme begins in late June, with construction of a unique arched pedestrian gateway to the business quarter which will involve alteration and partial demolition of part of the Grade II* listed frontage of Chester Station – under listed building consent.
This stage – scheduled to begin in late June – also involves relocation of British Transport Police into another part of the station building and a new store facility for Arriva Trains Wales.
And stage three, due for completion in Autumn next year, will include hard landscaping, tree and flower bed planting, lighting and street furniture running from the Quarter gateway to the first office building 1, City Place.
Said Renaissance Chairman, Eric Langton: “The Central Business Quarter is a major statement to the business world – to come and be part of the exciting One City journey that celebrates Chester’s past while changing our future.
“This is the first visible sign of the project which will attract quality employers with the potential to create thousands of jobs.”
Added Mr Langton: “There is already a lot of interest from companies excited by the Central Business Quarter who recognise the merit of the project and the city’s ambitions to make Chester an even better place to live, work and play.
“Construction workers are, of course, already on the site of Cheshire’s largest Waitrose store, linked to the business quarter via a new foot and cycle bridge, significantly enhancing one of the city’s main approach roads when it opens before the end of this year.”
The project is supported with a grant of £617,550 from the European Regional Development Fund.
Last night (Tuesday) local residents and businesses attended the first of a series of information meetings at the Queen Hotel, designed to keep the local community up to date with the latest project information.
Said Councillor Robinson: “It is vital that we keep our residents right up to date with the project and also protect their quality of life whilst work continues.”
Chester’s Central Business Quarter, which will eventually create 500,000 square feet of high quality new office space and public realm, is a vital part of the One City Plan – a visionary blueprint designed to create a world class city by 2027.
Over 1,200 residents, businesses and other stakeholders contributed to its recommendations which embrace every aspect of the city, from its historic core, pedestrianisation, transport, the waterfront, culture, heritage, commerce, and the £300m Northgate Development.