Plans to build 133-home canal side scheme in Chester approved by council
The newly approved scheme will deliver a high-quality mixed-tenure development including 54 homes for affordable shared ownership sale.
Plans to build more than 130 new homes on brownfield land in the centre of Chester have been 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 a 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 accommodation, offices, shops, restaurants and cafes.
The vacant 1.24-acre site, which Latimer purchased 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. Work on the scheme is expected to begin this year.