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A proposed new high-quality pedestrian and cycle bridge, in addition to the existing road bridge, connecting to a new green link which runs through the Gateway.
Chester Railway Station marks the arrival into Chester and an overarching ambition of the Draft SRF is to create an improved Station experience and enhanced Gateway into the City.
There is the potential to create an enhanced Gateway that will encourage and draw people into the City Centre, with an improved route along City Road and Brook Street, by
Chester Railway Station marks the arrival into Chester and an overarching ambition of the Draft SRF is to create an improved Station experience and enhanced Gateway into the City.
There is the potential to create an enhanced Gateway that will encourage and draw people into the City Centre, with an improved route along City Road and Brook Street, by
A network of high-quality walking and cycling routes across the Gateway will help encourage more sustainable modes of transport and improved accessibility for all.
Existing car parking in the Gateway is dispersed and comprises surface car parking which detracts from the look and feel of the area. There is an opportunity to consolidate car parking into a high-quality, well positioned offer that is reflective of the quality of Chester Railway Station as a regional transport hub.
A car parking strategy will be required to inform the preferred approach.
A range of locations have been considered for a new multi-storey car park to service the Railway Station. This needs to be carefully considered across the Gateway. A potential location for this could be on the existing Chester Station West NCP above the proposed Mobility Hub as this could provide:
Existing public and private car parks across the Gateway
*Planning Permission 19/03845/OUT obtained on 3rd July 2020 for the erection of 244 bed Hotel (Class C1) over 7 storeys on the Black Diamond Car Park site.
There is an opportunity to improve, promote and enhance the Gateway’s unique qualities to encourage footfall, increase dwell time, and promote the Gateway as a place people choose to live, spend time or work.
There is a need for new homes within the Gateway to meet local housing need and provide a range of tenures and house types.
New residential development within the Gateway will also play an important role in bringing more people into the City Centre and increasing footfall at all times of day and into the evening to ensure vitality and vibrancy.
Chester City Gateway provides the opportunity to transform the area around Chester Railway Station into a high-quality new destination for sustainable living and working. It provides significantly enhanced green travel connectivity to the city and the Railway Station for all visitors and residents, particularly those communities to the north of the station.
Cheshire West and Chester Council, Network Rail and LCR are consulting on a Draft Strategic Regeneration Framework that sets out the strategic vision, key initiatives, and overarching principles for the Chester City Gateway, which will be used to attract inward investment, support future funding bids and inform future planning applications.
The plan’s five Key Moves will underpin development in the gateway:
This website provides an overview of the Draft SRF and you can download the full Draft SRF and associated documents below.
Chester is proud of its history and confident about its future. Chester benefits from a strong economy, unique heritage assets, world-class tourist attractions and is a regional gateway and economic driver to North Wales, Merseyside and the North West. Chester is a great place to live, do business and study.
Chester City Gateway is a key part of the City’s transformation. Chester attracts 36 million visitors each year, many of whom arrive at Chester Railway Station before onward travel to world-class tourist attractions and into the City’s primary shopping streets. The Railway Station is also a key connector to the wider Cheshire, North Wales and Merseyside area, and beyond, with many residents and businesses reliant on the railway network to connect into other principal towns and cities. Nearly 5 million passengers use Chester Railway Station each year.
The location of the Gateway links existing residential communities to the north and east, such as Hoole Village, with Chester City Centre, and has an ability to become a destination in its own right, with the potential to create a thriving new hub for Chester, complete with new independent retailers and eateries alongside high-quality offices at City Place and new homes. Importantly the success of the Gateway will be measured on its ability to draw new people into the City Centre, to want to live and work in Chester, and encourage more footfall and vibrancy into the heart of the primary shopping area.
The Gateway is a key project, which, once delivered will build upon the achievement of Chester’s One City Plan’s significant investment of over £222 million in regeneration projects from public and private sectors.
The Gateway presents a major opportunity to bring forward mixed-use regeneration and economic growth to Chester. The poor configuration of the existing Railway Station and surrounding road network is uninspiring and heavily congested. There are barriers to movement and a poor environment for people living, working and visiting the area. Redevelopment can help to mitigate these transport-led issues and create a vibrant and popular destination for business, living and tourism.
The Draft SRF is a bold and transformational vision that forms a vital part of the region’s future. The study area is an integral part of the City Centre and could become a new sustainable residential quarter within Chester, a key project of the One City Plan.
The refreshed One City Plan is based upon 4 key themes (these are outlined below). These themes represent the foundations on which the new plan is built. To ensure that this SRF is aligned with the ambitions of the One City Plan, the proposed drivers for change have been assessed against the 4 themes of the refreshed Plan.
Our vision for Chester is one that is proud of its history and confident about its future. We will create a unique city that prioritises inclusivity and sustainability to ensure a healthier, greener and fairer future for all its people.
This One City Plan will build on the successes of the first plan with relevant actions carried forward. The refreshed One City Plan with be in two parts. This document is the vision, developed in partnership with
people who live, work, learn and play in Chester. It will form the basis for the action plan to follow, and this will include the 45 actions we will deliver as a city by 2045.
Click the link below to download the Chester One City Plan 2022-2045:
Chester One City Plan 2022-2045
Creating a new Gateway into Chester
The role of the Railway Station in unlocking growth
The opportunity for transformational change
Promoting the more efficient use of land
A need to provide new high-quality housing to meet local needs
Improving sustainable connections
An opportunity to provide a viable live/ work balance
Delivering economic growth
Creating strong amenity
Complementing the wider regeneration of Chester
The Chester City Gateway Draft Strategic Regeneration Framework (Draft SRF) sets out a long term vision for the area around the Grade II* Listed Chester Railway Station, including potential development and new infrastructure opportunities which will support the regeneration of a key part of Chester City Centre.
The Draft SRF is the first stage of the development process – it presents a clear vision, objectives and design principles for the area around Chester Railway Station, helping to attract new investment into the City. It will help support future funding bids and be a tool for the Council to use in determining future planning applications coming forward in the area.
The aim is for Chester City Gateway to build upon key opportunities which are already planned, for example the proposed improvements to Chester Railway Station, as well as identify the potential for further change which could be delivered subject to funding and investment being secured. There are also key sites that could be delivered in the short-term and are not reliant on new infrastructure to come forward.
The Council and public sector partners will support and facilitate development coming forward within the Gateway and help to unlock key infrastructure projects. A key role will be to seek external investment, recognising the importance of the new infrastructure for the betterment of the Gateway as a whole.
The Draft SRF is formed of two parts:
The draft SRF proposes:
Up to 600 new homes with parking as appropriate
Active ground floor uses providing new independent retail, food and beverage outlets and community uses
New high quality public realm including an enhanced Station Square
Improvements to Chester Railway Station including enhancing the concourse and consolidating car parking into a new Mobility Hub
New active travel routes for walking and cycling, better connecting the Gateway into the City Centre
High-quality greening, including planting of new trees and opportunities for Biodiversity Net Gain
Enhanced business opportunities and workspaces
A proposed new high-quality pedestrian and cycle bridge, in addition to the existing road bridge, connecting to a new green link which runs through the Gateway
“Together, we will create a beautiful Gateway to the City Centre, where residents and visitors can easily reach all that Chester and the Cheshire region have to offer. Underpinned by the Gateway’s heritage and its excellent transport connectivity, new infrastructure investment and development will transform underutilised brownfield land for public benefit. “
A highly-accessible central hub, focused around Chester Railway Station, that encourages sustainable movement and enhances the experience of the City for residents and visitors alike
Network of people friendly routes and spaces promoting walking and cycling and public transport for regional and national travel
Community facilities and distinctive commercial uses that stimulate independence and vibrancy
Making better use of brownfield land creating liveable and integrated neighbourhoods including new homes that support healthy living, working and culture
Highest standards of sustainable design and biodiversity contributing to Chester’s Net Zero-Carbon ambitions
Key
There are five ‘key moves’ underpinning the vision for any development coming forward for Chester City Gateway:
This Draft SRF is a critical first step on the journey to transform the Chester City Gateway. We recognise that it will take time to deliver our ambition and that the Council cannot deliver this alone. We will need to work in partnership with key landowners and stakeholders in the Gateway to ensure its success. This Draft SRF provides a tool in which to attract new investment into Chester, as well as set out the Council’s position and aspirations on development and design standards that we want to see come forward.
TO BE DELIVERED SUBJECT TO FUNDING:
The key delivery partners for Chester City Gateway include Cheshire West and Chester Council, Network Rail who will be supported by LCR as well as individual landowners within the Gateway.
Once the consultation period ends on 3 February 2023, we will consider all feedback received and where possible and appropriate, make amendments to the SRF. The final SRF will then go before the Council’s Cabinet to endorse and adopt.
Stage 1
Draft SRF
Stage 2
Public consultation starts
Stage 3
Public consultation ends
Stage 4
Project team reviews all comments and updates SRF
Stage 5
Final SRF document issued and taken to cabinet for endorsement
Chester City Gateway provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to transform the area around Chester Railway Station into a high-quality new destination for sustainable living and working. It will build upon the opportunity to enhance Chester Railway Station and create a world-class experience for passengers and visitors.
Over the long-term, the Gateway project has an ambition to deliver the following:
Chester City Gateway is the area immediately surrounding Chester Railway Station and includes land north and south of Hoole Way, Station Road, Brook Street, City Road leading to the Bars roundabout, Queens Road Car Park, land a Lightfoot Street West, land at Lightfoot Street East, Brook Street Car Park, Black Diamond Street Car Park, and land at Trafford Street.
It is important that the proposals for the Gateway reflect and respond to the surrounding area and local context, including respecting heritage assets and making sure that existing communities (residents and business community) have improved walking and cycling links to the station and the Gateway.
The Draft Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) sets out a clear plan, vision and objectives for the Gateway, along with key development principles and an illustrative masterplan. The aim is for the SRF to be formally endorsed and adopted by the Council and if this happens, the SRF will help to guide new development in the area and encourage investment.
The SRF is not a planning application. It sets out the broad principles and parameters that are important for future planning applications to consider. The development proposals put forward in the draft SRF are illustrative only, but start to outline the type of potential uses, scale and massing of development that could come forward in the Gateway.
The draft SRF has been developed in line with national planning policy and Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Local Plan. If adopted, the SRF will be a material consideration on future planning applications within the Gateway area.
We are keen to hear people’s views on the development principles and vision that is being put forward within the Draft SRF. We will take on board comments and consider these in preparing the final SRF.
You can download the Draft SRF and its supporting documents from this website and comment via the online feedback form here. We will be holding a series of drop-in consultation events where you can view a summary, speak to members of the team and ask questions. The events are being held on:
Tuesday 17 January – Chester Railway Station – 11am – 6.30pm
Wednesday 18 January – Christ Church Mission House – 11am – 2pm & Hoole Community Centre 3.30pm – 7pm
Saturday 21 January – Storyhouse – 10am – 3pm
If you can’t attend an event but would like to speak to someone about the draft SRF please call 0800 089 0362 or email [email protected]
Please send us your comments by 3rd February 2023.
You can comment online here or you can request a paper feedback form by calling 0800 089 0362 or emailing [email protected]. Please also contact us if you’d like the form or information in an alternative format.
The draft SRF is a long-term vision for the Chester Gateway. Some sites, such as the proposed pedestrian/cycle bridge will take longer to be delivered and will be dependent on detailed feasibility work. Some of the development proposals put forward in the draft SRF are already in the pipeline, such as the proposals for a new History Centre on Lightfoot Street West, for which a planning application has been submitted.
We will need to work in partnership with key landowners and stakeholders in the Gateway to ensure its success. This Draft SRF provides a tool in which to attract new investment into Chester, as well as set out the Council’s position and aspirations on development and design standards that we want to see come forward.
The proposals set out in the Gateway are being put forward by Cheshire West and Chester Council, LCR and Network Rail. These delivery partners have entered into an agreement to work collaboratively together in the Gateway. There are several key landowners, existing businesses and occupiers within the Gateway which the partners want to work with, to ensure the successful achievement of the vision, and to enable all to benefit from positive changes in the Gateway.
Delivery Partners will be exploring funding streams to help deliver the projects, as well as the potential for developer contributions as sites in the Gateway come forward for development. No funding is agreed at this stage.
LCR specialises in sustainable regeneration, site assembly and masterplanning. LCR facilitate the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes and jobs, and generate in excess of £7bn of public value, through leveraging our existing assets, partnerships and joint ventures.
In partnership with a range of private developers, housing authorities, local and central government agencies and transport authorities, we are working to unlock development and regeneration opportunities across the UK’s network of railway stations and their surrounding land.
A Delivery Strategy has been prepared which identifies the potential standalone development opportunities (which are not constrained by infrastructure requirements) and those projects which are interrelated, for example the Mobility Hub could unlock development on Queens Road car park. The Delivery Strategy is intended to be flexible to respond to changing market conditions and developer/investor interest, and available funding.
Planning applications could come forward at any time for any of the privately-owned sites. The SRF is proposed to be in place to help ensure a comprehensive approach to new development in this area and provide guidance on the type of development (quality/ mix/ scale) that could be appropriate in this area.
We aim to create a mixed community in the Gateway – bringing together new housing, workspaces, small independent food and beverage uses and community/ civic uses. The final mix of uses will depend on the market and occupier demand.
We are keen to engage with businesses and residents in the Gateway. If you think that you, or your property might be affected by the proposals in the draft SRF, please contact us on 0800 089 0362 or [email protected].
If you have any questions, or require the documents in a different format, please email [email protected] or call 0800 089 0362.
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