The first stage of an upgrade to a Chester Cathedral building has been revealed.

Proposals for changes to the 30 St Werburgh Street building, which was formerly occupied by Barclays Bank and The King's School over the past 150 years, have been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

It will be the first step of what Chester Cathedral has coined Project Discovery, which will ultimately transform the site to increase visibility of the cathedral and create a new entrance in the next few years.

Listed building consent is sought for changes to the Grade II-listed buildings that make up 30 St Werburgh Street, which are currently vacant since coming back in the cathedral's care. It is intended that minor alterations are made so both buildings can be reoccupied by the cathedral for office use.

A heritage, design and access statement prepared by Donald Insall Associates on behalf of the cathedral said the proposals "would return two substantial city centre heritage assets back into full and active occupation", adding: "It would provide much-needed maintenance, upgrading of the offices to meet modern standards including access, and would return the heritage assets to optimum viable use, securing their conservation in the long term."

Works listed mainly consist of repairs, redecoration and "modest" refurbishment, with the removal of modern partitions and former office paraphernalia.

Externally, the existing car park at the rear would be reused and resurfaced with the same materials.

A temporary timber wheelchair access ramp would be installed to the rear to meet immediate access requirements.

If approved, it is planned for cathedral staff to start working in the new offices in early 2025, bringing the building back into use less than a year after Barclays Bank moved out to the former McDonald's site across the road at the front of the former Forum Shopping Centre complex.

Future phases of Project Discovery are a refresh of the whole building, followed by the creation of a new entrance to the cathedral, estimated to be achieved between 2026 and 2028.