PLANS have been lodged with the aim of bringing back into use three vacant Chester city centre buildings which have been formerly occupied by a nightclub and restaurant.
The proposal is to convert the ground floor of 15-23 Frodsham Street, comprising a trio of buildings constructed in the late 19th century, into five separate shop units and the addition of two new entrance doors.
Part of the site features the former Yates's nightspot which shut several years ago, before being more recently occupied by Level Two nightclub and Wolfie's Bar and Grill.
The central building, 17-21 Frodsham Street, was originally built as a printworks and is Grade II listed, while the third is a three-storey premises most recently used as a Chinese restaurant.
According to the planning application, submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council on behalf of owners Stanthorne Ltd, no prospective tenants have been identified yet but the proposed changes would make the buildings more attractive for potential occupants.
It states: "The site is currently vacant and in a poor state of repair. The present application seeks to change the use of the ground floor to Use Class E (commercial, business and service) and subdivide the ground floor to create five units.
"The change of use and subdivision of the ground floor would enable the site to be better suited and attractive to prospective occupiers, better reflect the historic arrangement of the buildings, and secure the long-term future of the building.
"The units would be divided using non-structural partition walling. All five units would be accessed from Frodsham Street. At present prospective tenants have not been identified and therefore information relating to the day-to-day operations at the units is not available."
Planning consent was granted back in 2018 for the ground floor of the buildings to be turned into three cafe/restaurant units.
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