County Hall scheme faces refusal

PLANS for a multi-million pound innovation centre in Chester are set to be thrown out by planning chiefs next week.

The University of Chester has drawn up plans for a £6m ‘innovation economy centre’ and conference venue in the old County Hall which it bought from Cheshire West and Chester council for £10m.

The proposals include space for 15 business start-ups, shared meeting spaces and conference facilities for 160 delegates.

The university says the scheme would give businesses and academics a forum to exchange ideas.

In documents prepared ahead of a planning meeting on July 13, officers said the proposed change of use of the building was “not inappropriate” given its previous use as a council building.

But the university’s plan to use aluminium window frames in place of the old steel ones has proved to be a stumbling block for the council.

The report said: “It is considered that the proposed development by reason of the replacement windows would result in an unacceptable detrimental impact on the surrounding
conservation area.

“The development is not considered to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the surrounding conservation area. The replacement windows would fail to sustain and enhance the significance of this building as part of the wider heritage asset.”