Update on plans for Chester city centre aparthotel overlooking racecourse

A planning application for the proposed £15m Nicholas Street development, which will create 136 new jobs, was put forward back in September last year.

However, following consultation with local residents, those plans have now been withdrawn and a fresh proposal containing "significant changes" to the scheme have been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The applicant, Walker & Williams, wants to repair and redevelop 26 and 28 Nicholas Street – vacant Grade II listed properties formerly used as offices – into a five-star aparthotel with 52 suites, ready to open in 2023, as well as six holiday cottages, a restaurant and bar, and a rooftop pool and terrace with views to Chester Racecourse.

The scheme will also see the restoration of 3 Nicholas Street Mews, along with a further six mews cottages and two three-storey townhouses to provide "high-quality" city centre residential properties.

Revised plans have been lodged for a city centre aparthotel with restaurant and rooftop pool.

Changes to the development include:

• The rooftop infinity pool moved further back from Nicholas Street Mews and to a higher level within the aparthotel.
• Redesign and repositioning of the rooftop restaurant to be two metres away from the edge of the rooftop, allowing for increased privacy and daylight for residents living on Grey Friars.
• Screening around the rooftop terrace to reduce potential noise from guests.
• Window frosting for guest suites which overlook properties along Grey Friars.

Max Walker-Williams, who founded Walker & Williams with his wife Laura back in 2016, said: "Since announcing our vision for Nicholas Street last year, we have received nothing but encouragement and support from the council, LEP, Marketing Cheshire and others for what we are trying to achieve.

"But it is just as important that local residents are able to feel confident in what we want to do and the way we will operate, as we will be neighbours for many years to come.

"We’ve been able to work constructively with local residents and have made significant changes to the scheme, which has resulted in a superior design for the aparthotel and delivers a scheme that our neighbours can be happy with.

Revised plans have been lodged for a city centre aparthotel with restaurant and rooftop pool.

"I’m very grateful for the input of our neighbours and I’m pleased that our revised plans have now been submitted to the council.

"Our ambition remains to transform the two townhouses along Nicholas Street into our flagship aparthotel.

"I am excited to bring something unique and exceptional to Chester and provide a reason for visitors to stay for longer in the city than they currently do."

The historic site, which was valued at £1.6m with the offices formerly occupied by a legal firm, has been vacant for four years and are in a state of disrepair.

In late 2019, numerous squatters gain unauthorised access to the building and resided there for several weeks before being evicted.

Family-run hotelier Walker & Williams is also behind the new five-star The Hotel Chester on Newgate Street which is due to launch next month.

Revised plans have been lodged for a city centre aparthotel with restaurant and rooftop pool.