Waitrose to breathe new life into Chester retail scheme

WAITROSE has submitted an application for a new 30,000 sq ft store in Chester.

If approved, the hybrid application brought forward by Manchester-based How Planning will lead to the redevelopment of the Boughton Retail Centre site and adjoining land, where outline permission is being sought for a hotel and offices.

The new store will be the mainstay of a mixed-use development, which will include a series of smaller units fronting Boughton Road as well as new public realm and a pedestrian/cyclist bridge crossing the Shropshire Union Canal.

HOW has worked with architects Broadway Malyan on the scheme. Extensive pre-application discussions have also been undertaken with Cheshire West and Chester Council. A community consultation exercise undertaken in October last year showed 90%-plus approval ratings for the scheme from stakeholders and the local community.

Conor Vallelly, senior planner at HOW Planning, said: “We are delighted to submit this major planning application on behalf of Waitrose.

“The plans will deliver a high quality retail offer by regenerating the Boughton Retail Centre, which is looking tired and outdated.

“It is great to be working with an ambitious retailer who has such a unique approach to the market, as demonstrated by the high quality design proposed for the new Chester store. These proposals will hopefully contribute positively towards the city’s wider regeneration objectives.”

Waitrose development director Nigel Keen said: “The submission of our application is another exciting step forward in realising our aspiration to have a full offer store in Chester and further underlines our ambition to increase our presence in the North West.”