New 58 bed hotel approved for Chester city centre

Dec 8 2008 by David Norbury, Chester Chronicle

NEW plans have been agreed for a 58 bed hotel on a rundown looking city centre site.

The application was made at the Dewa Roman Experience Centre on Pierpoint Lane off Bridge Street where a previous scheme for a 68 bed budget hotel with shops and a restaurant was refused 12 months ago.

The company went back to the drawing board and put forward a reduced scheme for a three to five storey hotel with 58 bedrooms, together with shops and a restaurant on the ground floor.

The number of rooms has been reduced as has the size of the building and the overall design has been changed, say city planners.

Conservation officers had no objection subject to conditions.

The owners of the Platinum Lounge club at 42 Bridge Street Row point out the earlier application was rejected and say they are concerned about the size and design of the hotel and its height compared to other buildings in the locality.

They believe it will appear more imposing than the previous scheme and also question whether another hotel is needed in Chester.

Liverpool based solicitors Brabners Chaffe Street, on behalf of the owners of 42 Bridge Street, Mrs J A Riley and Mrs J M Morrison, also objected and said there were several important legal issues which needed to be resolved.

Their clients were not willing to sell or give up any land or to have any land built over.

The site, between Commonhall Street, Pierpoint Lane and Bollands Court at the rear of shops and properties in Bridge Street, has a rundown appearance, according to a report.

No objections have been raised by Chester Civic Trust.

The previous application was refused as it was felt the scheme would be overdevelopment and would fail to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the city centre conservation area, says the report.

Planning officers believe the hotel will provide more interest and quality than the existing warehouse and garage buildings occupied by the centre on Pierpoint Lane.

They recommended permission.

“I am a little concerned about the outlook from the shops in Commonhall Street although I welcome the opening up of Pierpoint Lane,” city centre councillor Gwyn Cooper (Lab, City & St Anne's) told Chester's planning board.

Newton Brook Cllr Terri Gray (Con) referred to the loss of the Roman centre and argued the application should be refused.

“It is not at all suitable for an ancient city,” she suggested.

Development control manager Fiona Edwards told the board: “We believe it will enhance the conservation area.”

Cllr Gray's move to reject the plans was not seconded and the board agreed the development could have permission on 10-2 vote after this had been moved by Cllr Cooper.