Works starts on £400m facelift for Chester

Jul 31 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

DEMOLITION work heralding the start of the £400m development of Chester city centre has begun.

The development, when completed, will provide 440,000 sq ft (41,000 sq m) of new shops and leisure facilities incorporating a House of Fraser department store, a new performing arts centre, library, market hall, bus station and several civic squares.

New apartments and a new office for the city council are planned, although the recent decision by the government to introduce unitary councils for Cheshire has thrown this into some doubt.

The scheme will replace the Forum shopping centre, Gateway theatre, and the library and market hall will be moved.

Yesterday, Cllr Margaret Parker was behind the controls of a large digger as it ripped into St Martin’s House at the back of Chester bus station.

She said: “With the demolition of St Martin’s House, we are at last beginning to see the start of the Northgate development.

“This is a very exciting project for Chester and I am confident it will bring many benefits to the city.”

The former health authority building which was being demolished yesterday, has been vacant for more than a decade. It will take about three weeks to demolish.

Demolition firm KDC estimates 80% of the materials will be recycled.

As part of phase one, St Martin’s House will be replaced by a 652 space multi-story car park which will link to the Northgate Development.

Construction of phase one will start later this year and completion is expected in 2011.