Chester council approves proposal for 133 canal-side homes

Design for the scheme

Approval has been granted for a 133-home canal-side scheme in Chester, with work expected to start later this year.

The brownfield scheme was approved by delegated council powers this week.

Latimer, the development arm of Clarion Housing Group, worked with Progressive Living – which submitted an application on the not-for-profit developer’s behalf – to plan 133 apartments on the vacant site next to the Shropshire Union Canal and Grade-II-listed Chester Shot Tower.

The newly approved scheme will deliver a high quality mixed-tenure development including 54 homes for affordable shared ownership sale. It will also create new quality canal-side public realm and access to podium-level amenity space for residents.

The project, which will provide a collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments, forms part of a wider City Place masterplan which has outline consent for a mixed-use development of residential, offices, shops, restaurants and cafes.

The vacant 1.24-acre site, which Latimer acquired in 2021 as its first acquisition in the city, is sustainably located within walking distance of the city centre and in close proximity to the train station providing direct links to Liverpool and Manchester. The neighbouring canal footpath can be easily accessed from the site, providing a direct and car-free route into the historic core of Chester.

Richard Cook, group development director for Clarion Housing Group, said: “Our plans to regenerate this prime site in Chester will deliver a mixed-tenure scheme and provide a range of homes that the city desperately needs.

“We are passionate about creating sustainable and mixed-tenure communities which boost local economies and deliver vital affordable homes for local people. We look forward to seeing our vision for this site become a reality.”

David Fairclough, director at Progressive Living Developments, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Latimer on bringing forward this exciting and much needed development of high quality homes in the heart of Chester city centre.

“The location and proposed design suggests that the regeneration of this site will be hugely successful, and we look forward to being involved in the delivery of such a scheme.

“Alongside ourselves and Latimer is a supporting team of expert consultants who have worked incredibly hard in order for us to reach this milestone. In particular we would like to mention AHR, Turley, Exterior Architecture, ROC, Zerum, Biora, Curtins and Miller Goodall .”

The approved planning application will now enable the scheme to progress, starting with the appointment of a build contractor.

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