The Chester Renaissance – Director Circa £90,000

18 August 2008

Do you have the passion to build upon Chester’s historic past and make it a must see European Destination? Could you fulfil the role of this significant post?

---

Chester Travelodge opened by Roman soldiers

12 August 2008

CHESTER’S new 60-bedroom Travelodge was officially opened as part of a £2.5m investment which has created 20 jobs.

Chester MP Christine Russell performed the official opening. A dozen Roman soldiers, two horn-blowers and a standard bearer greeted visitors who opening were treated to a Roman themed party, which marked a ‘Celebration to Janus’, the Roman God of New Ventures and New Beginnings. Guests feasted on Roman delicacies, including figs, olives, honey and yoghurt, and cheeses. Read more about Chester Travelodge opened by Roman soldiers

---

Bottoming out at Delamere Street

17 July 2008

A ‘bottoming out’ celebration was held on 17th July to mark the end of the excavation phase of a £34m development regeneration project at Gorse Stacks in Chester. It also provided a unique opportunity to view the ancient quarry face exposed for the first time in centuries as a result of digging.

The development at the former Delamere Street Bus Station site is being carried out by Construction and Development Company Watkin Jones Group, in partnership with Chester City Council and Rufus Estates.

The Gorse Stacks Development will provide a mix of 1 and 2 bedroom luxury apartments, affordable housing, retail and commercial units. It will also feature a large underground public car park and construction will now start following the completion of archaeological excavations.

---

Station Award

3 July 2008

Chester Station Gateway Partnership, which is driving the regeneration and development of the railway station and surrounding area, was awarded the Community Partnership Network Rail Award 2008 at an awards ceremony in London on 3rd July.

This is a great achievement as it recognises the partnership working that has taken place between Chester City Council, Cheshire County Council, rail industry, funding bodies, North West Development Agency, Visit Chester and Cheshire and heritage organisations over many years to deliver the improvements to date and the ongoing partnership working to continue the development of this key Gateway. Everyone involved over the time of this project has played a role in this success.

In addition, the Station Square scheme was short-listed at the National Transport Awards on 15th July in the Walking and Public Realm Category - recognising the improvements made for the pedestrian, and aesthetically with the quality of finish, as part of the scheme.

---

Shane Flynn to head the Chester Renaissance

9 May 2008

Chester Renaissance, the organisation tasked with making Chester a must-see European city by 2015, has appointed former MBNA Europe Chief Executive Shane Flynn as its chairman. Mr Flynn is a founder of Cordjia LLC, a private equity company based in the USA.

Mr Flynn, 46, who led MBNA Europe from 2004 until 2006, heads the private and public sector partnership board that will oversee the £1.5 billion Renaissance programme of new developments and city centre improvements which aim to make Chester an outstanding place to live visit and do business.

---

NWDA announces £931,000 investment for public realm works in the heart of Chester

31 January 2008

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is delighted to announce an investment of £931,800 for improvement packages aimed at helping Chester to become a 'must-see' European destination. The improvements are part of the £1.5 billion Chester Renaissance programme, co-ordinated by Chester City Council on behalf of the Chester Renaissance Partnership.

The Public Realm works, which started on 14th January, are a £1,355,800 project which will improve the way people move around the city and further strengthen Chester’s high quality visitor and leisure offer.

---

Renaissance shows true council vision

23 January 2008

Chester City Council leaders have hit back at recent media claims that it lacks vision and that the city is becoming "ghost town."

Although retailers and businesses are facing a challenging time, the council believes that the credit squeeze and pressure on consumers to meet rising domestic bills are issues facing the whole country, yet despite these constraints the council is ploughing ahead with ambitious plans to revitalise the district.

---

Chester Scoops Lotto

13 December 2007

Chester City Council is celebrating after the city scooped its share of lottery cash as part of a UK-wide project to create new cycling and walking routes was named winner of The People's £50 Million Lottery contest.

The bid known as Connect 2 and coordinated by the cycle organization Sustrans, won 42% of the 286,285 votes entered by members of the public for the competition and beat three other short-listed entries to win the £50 million prize - the biggest-ever UK Lottery grant awarded by public vote.

---

Preserving the Heritage of the Chester Station Gateway

22 October 2007

Chester City Council is inviting views on new planning guidelines aimed at protecting the historic buildings around Chester Station.

Earlier this year, the council secured funding under the Heritage Lottery Fund's Townscape Heritage Initiative which, together with private sector investment and money from Cheshire County Council, Chester City Council and the Railway Heritage Trust, provided in the region of £ 1.4 million to repair and enhance historically important buildings that contribute to the character of the area.

---

Survey Reveals a Thriving City

26 September 2007

A great place to shop and do business and punching well above its weight. These are the conclusions being drawn from a study into how Chester is performing as a retail centre.

Chester City Council commissioned the Chester Retail Study to help develop planning policy up to 2016 and to better understand retail patterns and how the sector can be strengthened.

---

Northgate Development: Demolition of St Martin’s House

30 July 2007

The first major demolition work heralding the beginning of the Northgate project begins this week. (July 30).

City council leader Councillor Margaret Parker will be behind the controls of a large digger, a Komatsu PC 600,as it rips in to St Martin’s House at the back of Chester bus station.

---

Groundbreaking Development

28 July 2007

Watkin Jones Homes’ eagerly anticipated Gorse Stacks development in Chester is on the way - following a traditional ground-breaking ceremony which signified the start of work on this prestigious site, just outside the city walls at Northgate.

Councillor Stephen Mosley Deputy Leader of Chester City Council accompanied by Mike Jones Executive Member for Development, performed the ‘honours’ by turning over the first sod – watched by local dignitaries, including Lord Mayor Jim Latham and Councillor Andrew Storrar, and representatives of Watkin Jones, including both the Chairman and the Managing Director.

---

Phase Two Begins on St Martin’s Way Underpass

23 July 2007

Phase two gets underway this weekend (July 28 and 29) on part of the £1.5 million scheme to waterproof, reconstruct and resurface Chester’s inner ring road flyover including the underpass which provides access to Princess Street car park.

Traffic at the underpass beneath St Martin’s Way will be down from four to three lanes for a short span between Princess Street and

Watergate Street from 8am till 6pm Saturday and noon till 6pm on Sunday. Read more about Phase Two Begins on St Martin’s Way Underpass

---

Station Improvements Back on Track

26 June 2007

Unplanned repairs to secure loose stonework at Chester Station, are now finished following several months of hard work.

Last December, the installation of a new lighting scheme at Chester station was temporarily suspended after contractors discovered loose stonework on the west wing facade and the west tower of the building. Following the discovery, Chester City Council facilitated a programme of repairs with financial support from English Heritage and the private owner of the affected station area. Read more on Station Improvements Back on Track

---

£1.3 Million Scheme for Chester Railway Station Square

10 May 2007

Work begins on June 11th on a £1.3 million project to transform the road and footway network outside Chester Railway Station.

The delivery of the scheme is being led by and receives the majority of funding from the County Council. Grants have been awarded from English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Railway Heritage Trust towards buying the heritage materials. Read more on £1.3 Million Scheme for Chester Railway Station Square

---

Boutique Hotel Set for Castle Gateway

30 March 2007

Andrew Brownsword and Michael Caines acquire fourth hotel property and are set to launch ABode Chester in Autumn 2007

ABode, the growing collection of lifestyle hotels established in 2005 by hotelier Andrew Brownsword (owner of The Bath Priory, Gidleigh Park and Sydney House) and two Michelin-starred chef, Michael Caines (Gidleigh Park & Michael Caines at ABode) has acquired a fourth property in Chester on the site of the former Cheshire Constabulary headquarters, at the gateway to the city. Read more Boutique Hotel Set for Castle Gateway.

---

Network Rail Lifts Lid on Chester Station

26 March 2007

Work is about to start on a new glazed roof over the concourse and platforms at Chester Station. The £4 million investment by Network Rail marks the start of the Chester Gateway Partnership's 2007 programme to revitalise the station and its surrounding area.

This is the first sign of activity that local residents and visitors to Chester will see in a scheme which brings contributions from the Gateway partners valued at approximately £10 million. Read more about Network Rail Lifts Lid on Chester Station.

---

Station plans on display

21 March 2007

Members of the public, local businesses and rail users are being invited to find out more about a £10 million improvement scheme for Chester Station and the surrounding areas.

The regeneration programme will deliver a wide range of improvements over the next five years including a re-modelled concourse, a new station square, and architectural lighting for the station facade. Read more about Station plans on display.

---

Northgate - the Chester Renaissance ready to start

20 March 2007

Work will soon begin on the much heralded Northgate Development - a new vibrant quarter for Chester and the largest and most ambitious redevelopment in the city centre for decades.

Chester City Council is keen to develop and reshape the run down areas around Northgate and Gorse Stacks and this £280m scheme is being seen a once in a century opportunity to boost Chester's ability to compete with best in the Northwest. Read more about Northgate - the Chester Renaissance ready to start.

---

Chester Sport and Leisure Park - the way forward

15 March 2007

Leaders at Chester City Council have reaffirmed their commitment to delivering a new sports and leisure park after a cabinet committee decided to put the scheme to the open market.

At a meeting this week of a cabinet sub-committee, with all party representation, a decision was made not to pursue a proposal by developers Steel Tower to deliver the project. Read more about Chester Sport and Leisure Park - the way forward.

---

£1.4 million confirmed for station gateway

15 March 2007

Chester City Council is celebrating after securing £1.4 million of investment for Chester Station and its surrounding areas.

The funding will be used by the Gateway Partnership to deliver a programme of improvements under the Heritage Lottery's Townscape Heritage Initiative. A series of projects will be delivered over the next five years including improvements to the station complex, public realm works and the regeneration of buildings along Brook Street and City Road. Read more about the £1.4 million confirmed for station gateway.

---

Fire Protection for the Rows

14 March 2007

The city council will invest £100,000 over the next three years to protect Chester's historic Rows from fire.

Work has already started to install fire detection equipment in council owned premises and public walkways on Watergate and Bridge Street Rows.

The detection systems link to a private monitoring station which will immediately alert the fire service if an alarm is activated. The monitoring station will also notify the city council's CCTV control room. Read more about the Fire protection for the Rows.

---

Riverside Promenade Arch 45

13 March 2007

Work is well underway on one of the final links of Chester City Council's Riverside Promenade as workers prepare to demolish a wall in a railway arch that lies in the way of a near continuous footpath and cycle route from The Groves to the Old Port and beyond into Flintshire.

Development Portfolio Holder for Chester City Council, Councillor Jim Latham said, "This is a symbolic moment for city councillors and officers and all those involved who have worked on this project for over 15 years. Read more about the Riverside Promenade Arch 45.

---

Bright New Future for Chester's Town Hall

26 February 2007

Chester City Council will soon consider a major scheme to improve Chester's Town Hall - one of the city's most important landmark historic buildings.

The scheme will enhance its use for the community and as a venue for banquets, weddings and entertainment. It also will reinforce its role as the heart of Chester's civic life and the seat of the Lord Mayor.

The council is taking advantage of the Northgate Development scheme to give the building a facelift. The improvement programme will be run alongside the Northgate Development works to minimise disturbance. Read more about the Bright New Future for Chester's Town Hall.

---

Improving Chester's Rows

22 February 2007

Chester City Council has big plans to improve the city's historic Rows - the galleried shopping streets which are unique to Chester and of international importance.

The Rows date back to mediaeval times and are central to the city's attractiveness as a regional shopping centre and international tourist attraction. They are almost all privately owned and it is the legal responsibility of the individual property owners to keep their part of the complex well maintained. Read more about Improving Chester's Rows.

---

Loose stonework halts station lighting scheme

26 January 2007

The installation of a new lighting scheme at Chester station has been temporarily suspended after contractors discovered loose stonework on the west wing facade and the west tower of the building.
Following the discovery, the city's building control team has been liaising with the private owners of the affected area to make sure it is secured as soon as possible.

For a number of weeks, part of the station has been cordoned off whilst structural engineers and stone masons assessed the damage. They have now confirmed that the rest of the building is safe and given the go ahead for some of the safety fencing to be removed. Read more about Loose stonework halts station lighting scheme

---

A bright future for Chester station

15 November 2006

Work has begun on a key project to regenerate Chester station and its surrounding area.
The installation of an architectural lighting scheme started this week to enhance the facade of the train station.

The lighting is part of a wider regeneration project to repair and improve the station complex and its surroundings making it a key gateway into the city and enhance other historically important buildings along Brook Street and City Road. Read more about A bright future for Chester station.

---

Boost For Chester's 'Green' Travellers

13 November 2006

Travelling to work car-free is now a step closer thanks to improved cycle parking facilities at Chester Railway Station.

Up to 50 cyclists can now park their bikes in a designated, CCTV monitored area of the railway station following investment by Arriva Trains Wales and Cheshire County Council. The project, prompted by feedback from local cycling groups, has more than doubled the number of cycle spaces available at the station. Read more about Boost For Chester's 'Green' Travellers.