THE urban regeneration arm of construction and maintenance group Morgan Sindall has secured the £115m regeneration scheme for the proposed Central Business District (CBD) in Chester.
Muse has acquired a former 3.5 acre Lloyds Banking Group site close to Chester Central station which had been identified by the council as the location for its scheme, which it is estimated could take 10 years to complete.
A planning application is expected to be submitted early next year and it is hoped that construction could begin in 2013.
When complete the CBD will offer more than 500,000 sq ft of Grade ‘A’ office space.
Paul Smith, Morgan Sindall chief executive, said today: “We are delighted to have secured this regeneration scheme for what is set to be an exciting development for Chester.
“Regeneration schemes of this sort offer great potential for the group in the medium-term and represent exciting opportunities to further expand our regeneration activities.”
Muse was involved in the £110m St Paul’s Square scheme in Liverpool’s Old Hall Street which created an extension of the city’s business district.
Morgan Sindall has a regional construction base on Wavertree Technology Park and its regional affordable housing division, Lovell, works out of Birkenhead.
Muse was recently selected as the development partner by Warrington council for its £130m Bridge Street quarter regeneration scheme.
Cheshire West and Chester council last year commissioned a development study and public consultation for the scheme on the eastern side of the city centre.
Its location near the main rail station is seen as a natural site for a commercial district.
The council is keen to deliver the scheme as Chester Business Park is fully developed.
It aims to provide facilities suitable for large corporations as well as small start-up businesses.
The current proposals involve the first two phases of the new CBD which will comprise two six-storey Grade ‘A’ office buildings providing a total of 150,000 sq ft. Infrastructure work will link the scheme with the station and the nearby Shropshire Union Canal.
