Plans for hotel on former retail site submitted

A planning application for a Moxy Hotel at the former Broughton Retail Centre site in Chester city centre has been put forward.

The former retail centre has already seen the delivery of the new Waitrose store, areas of public realm and a new pedestrian/cyclist bridge over the Shropshire Union Canal.

The development, which is being proposed by property developers Vastint Hospitality BV, will provide 194 bedrooms and includes staff facilities, ground floor entrance lobby and reception and a gym.

Moxy is the new lifestyle brand of Marriott which caters to younger travellers. The hotel will be operated by Belvar.

Rhian Smith, senior planner at HOW Planning, said: “There are still only a few Moxy Hotel’s in the UK, but it is a rapidly growing brand as is evident by these applications for Vastint. It is great to be working with such an ambitious and positive developer.
“The proposal for Chester has clear synergies with the wider mix of other land uses found in this part of the city and it is anticipated that there will be a rise in the number of new visitors to the area, which will undoubtedly increase expenditure in local economy; in particular, in the cafés, bars, restaurants and shops located close to the site.”

This application is the third Moxy Hotel scheme HOW Planning has worked on for its client Vastint UK, with a similar application being approved at Birmingham’s NEC and another being prepared in Milton Keynes.