CHESTER Racecourse has lodged plans for a new bar and restaurant in the city centre.

The proposed development at 22 Bridge Street also includes residential accommodation.

It relates to the vacant property formerly occupied by the Steamer Trading Cookshop and later ProCook.

Chester Race Company, who have owned the building since March this year, have submitted both full planning and listed building consent applications to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The premises is part of a 17th Century group of three properties – including 24 and 26 Bridge Street – known as The Dutch House.

The application states: "The proposals involve alterations to the ground, first, second, third and fourth floor. This includes the insertion of new partitions and services, and the removal of modern finishes and partitions to convert the retail and associated office space of 22 Bridge Street to a bar/restaurant space on the ground, first and second floor, and residential accommodation on the second, third and fourth floor."

Two apartments each providing two bedrooms would be created as part of the plans.

Donald Insall Associates Ltd, acting on behalf of Chester Race Company, state in the design and access statement: "The final design was chosen to best serve the current market for city centre flats and to minimise any harm to the most significant parts of the listed building.

"It is proposed that areas and features of the building of high significance, including the historic front parlours overlooking Bridge Street, surviving historic joinery such as the small number of doors, frames and architraves, skirtings, picture rails, steps, handrails, fireplaces and plasterwork are retained.

"Unsympathetic later insertions and poor quality finishes will be removed and replaced with an efficient two-bedroom apartment on the second floor and a two-bedroom duplex on the third and fourth floor.

"Historic windows will be repaired where necessary using minimal intervention.

"The new mixed use is economically viable and brings a welcome addition to the city centre residential and commerce communities."

The neighbour consultation period ends on December 15.