162-room Chester city centre hotel with rooftop restaurant approved

The proposal for the massive new 'lifestyle' hotel on 1-13 Frodsham Street was submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council in February this year.

After concerns were raised about the design of the original plans, developers submitted revised proposals, focusing on a new look for the entrance area and breaking up the 'overall bulk and appearance' of the building, while improving its relationship to surrounding buildings.

An artist's impression of what the revised hotel would look like upon its completion. Source: Planning document.

The application was due to be called in, but following the revised proposals, that call-in was withdrawn and this week permission was granted for the new hotel, which is expected to create 130 new part- and full-time jobs.

The hotel plans have been created by the Chester office of architecture practice Donald Insall Associates, which specialises in working on historically sensitive sites.

The hotel will provide 162 bedrooms over four floors and include 7,500 sq ft of ground floor retail.

An artist's impression of what the revised hotel would look like upon its completion. Source: Planning document.

Five of the shops on Frodsham Street would continue trading, but the Poundland store at the corner – due to become the main entrance to the hotel – would be expected to close prior to development.

A planning officer detailed in their report: "The design of the proposed replacement building has been revised various times since the initial submission.

"The repetitive and uniform design of the original proposal reflected the existing building but at the scale proposed it was considered that more variety was necessary.

"The revised plans, in taking into account the comments now look to construct a simple neotraditional style, albeit in a contemporary finish, to reflect the wider character of the conservation area.

A previous version of the design proposals, since superseded by developers. Source: Planning document.

"The revised plans show that the elevation fronting Frodsham Street would initially consist of four unique bays, with different eaves heights and facia detailing, before connecting to a three bays with a gable feature roof.

"The rooftop bar and restaurant would be set back and of limited visibility from Frodsham Street, reducing the perceived scale of the new building from this elevation."

The current look of Frodsham Street. Picture: Google.

Cheshire West and Chester Council's planning officer also noted development work would result in the loss of four common pipistrelles [bats] daytime roosts.

However, the officer added: "The construction works will bring economic benefit on a local scale through sourcing local materials and suppliers, which will also reduce transport emissions. The redevelopment will greatly improve the wider area of the Chester City Centre and the employment potential of the site and a significant number of new jobs will be created. This brings economic, environmental, community and social benefit on a local scale."

The officer also noted to compensate for the roost's loss, two Norfolk bat bricks, an integrated bat box and a bat brick are to be provisioned, which will be incorporated into the new building during construction, along with a receptor bat box to be erected on to a nearby tree.

The officer concluded: "The proposal, improving the shop fronts and providing a roof top bar and restaurant facing the City Walls and Cathedral, would bring a substantiative regeneration for Frodsham Street and significant benefits to the city centre, making a positive contribution to the visitor economy."

Planning permission was granted subject to conditions regarding development.