Cheshire West and Chester Council is looking to woo potential multi-million-pound investors next week in a bid to help redevelop Chester city centre.
The local authority will join other Cheshire councils at the UK's Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds from May 21-23, looking to entice national and international investors and developers.
CWaC has previously indicated it is seeking external funding for Northgate Phase 2, having previously put tens of millions of pounds into making Phase 1 – which included Storyhouse, the New Chester Market and car park, Picturehouse Cinema and several restaurants – a reality.
The former Forum Shopping Centre.
Northgate Phase 2 is a 'regeneration opportunity' of about 2.7 hectares and comprises the former Forum Shopping Centre, the old Chester market site and Princess Street car park, the former Gateway theatre (latterly Forum Studio Theatre), Hamilton House and Goldsmith House.
A CWaC spokesperson indicated the large plot of city centre estate, which it owns, could become new housing.
The spokesperson said: "The guiding principles for future development, are for high quality design and innovative solutions for the spaces and enhancing accessibility throughout the area.
Hamilton House in Chester.
"This phase could be a distinct area with a contemporary feel, whilst still complementing and respecting the historic, cultural, and mixed-uses of the city centre.
"The next phase will look to develop potential uses for the area including residential, commercial, leisure, educational, and cultural.
"Quality public spaces and a clear movement pattern for pedestrians in and around the area with strong linkages to adjacent areas (particularly through from Watergate Street to the Northgate Phase 1 area and to the Cathedral) will underpin the area’s attractiveness and performance.
"The scheme will be looking to generate social value and community benefit, maximising the opportunities for Chester to develop as a learning city, and as a place to live, work and play."
Goldsmith House in Chester.
Northgate Phase 2 is one of the top priorities for Chester city regeneration. Other projects where investment is sought, according to CWaC's Chester Investment Prospectus, include Dee House, the former Quick's Garage on Lower Bridge Street and the former Argos building on Foregate Street. Further investment is also sought for Chester City Gateway near the Railway Station, where it is already planned to create a new history centre housing the borough's archives.
UKREiiF will also hear CWaC trumpet the ongoing industrial development near Ellesmere Port, which has seen big investment in recent years from Essar EET, Fulcrum BioEnergy, Protos and Stellantis (Vauxhall). Last year's UKREiiF saw the launch of ORIGIN Ellesmere Port, which has 1,300 businesses supporting employment for 24,100 people so far, with those numbers expected to increase to 1,463 and 30,000 respectively by 2040.
This year’s event expects to welcome over 10,000 attendees, including over 1,500 developers and over 1,500 investors. The delegates will hear from 700 speakers across 20 stages, and over 150 exhibitors.
Councillor Nathan Pardoe, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation said: “Delegates to UKREiiF will hear about the future investment opportunities across our region.
“We have a strong track record and ambitious regeneration projects across the borough, the Levelling Up project to reimagine Ellesmere Port Market and the surrounding area is already under way. The first stage of a £22 million town centre redevelopment is being completed in Winsford this month and site clearance has been completed for a new history centre to be built in Chester.
“We’ll be shining a spotlight on Ellesmere Port, sharing the latest news about ORIGIN with new industrial premises now available at Link Logistics and the Vortex Business Park, both completed this month, we also have further land opportunities available.
“In Chester our focus is on Northgate Phase Two following the successes of Phase One delivering Chester’s new award-winning market, restaurants, cinema, offices and car parking. This exciting future phase provides an opportunity to take forward a significant part of the city to bring residential living to the heart of Northgate.”
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