A FORMER church in a Chester suburb could be converted into a hotel.

Plans have been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council to convert the former St Andrews United Reformed Church in Handbridge into 17 hotel/short-stay units.

The plans have been submitted by the team behind The City Hotel, which opened in May 2021 at the former The City Arms pub in Saltney, and No.32 Tarporley.

The City Hotel, Saltney. Picture: Google.

The City Hotel, Saltney. Picture: Google.

In a design/access statement submitted as part of the plans, planners say the new apart-hotel would be a "quiet oasis" that would "serve short-staying visitors who wish to stay outside of the busy nature of Chester and visit all the attractions that the city has to offer, while providing a relaxed, characterful place to return to.

"The proposal brings the potential to boost the economy for local businesses through encouraging visitors from further afield."

The church building is currently vacant and the building had been up for sale for some time.

Planners added the look of the church would be preserved in the proposal, with the church windows "carefully divided to minimise the impact of the conversion".

It would offer 17 units, four of which would contain a mezzanine level, with a commercial unit at the rear which planners say would be suitable for "a pizzeria, cafe or bar".

The planners added: "New windows with glazing bars will replace the existing tired openings to modernise the façades while retaining the character of the church.

"The scheme intends to create a piece of design which improves the overall quality of Handbridge whilst offering benefits to the local area."

Each room would feature at least two of the original church windows, while any damaged brick or stonework would be cleaned and repaired.

Six full-time jobs and eight to 10 part-time jobs would be created as a result of the proposal, supporting the apartments and bar, while planners said they would make use of "an entirely local supply chain, from Cheshire Gin to Weetwood Ales to Chester Laundry."

No parking spaces would be created at the hotel development, but there would be a cycle rack storage.

Planners noted the availability of the Little Roodee car park "within a seven-minute walk of the site".