Controversial health centre on Delamere Street gets green light

Dec 22 2011 by David Norbury, Chester Chronicle

medical centre

A CONTROVERSIAL five-storey building labelled monstrous has been given the go-ahead.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has been criticised for approving the three-block building incorporating council offices, an NHS super centre and 42 apartments in Delamere Street.

The scheme would be delivered by Watkin Jones, who built the controversial Travelodge hotel opposite.

John Herson, of Chester Civic Trust, described the design of the latest four and five-storey complex as mediocre and monstrous in scale.

He told The Chronicle: "The firm that brought you the Travelodge and the social housing apartment block on the ring road is now about to bring you an even bigger development looming over the whole of Northgate Street and the city walls."

Mr Herson queried the councils ability to consider the application independently given it would be one of the occupiers.

Members of the public have also questioned NHS Western Cheshires decision to relocate GP services away from the community into the NHS centre.

Objector Nic Siddle, a patient at the affected Elms practice in Hoole, said: "I reject the notion that the movement of practices from Hoole to the city centre will have any beneficial consequences for patients of those practices."

But GP Dr Tony Bland, from Hoole Road Surgery, believes the one-stop shop for medical and social care services will benefit patients.

The framework for the 400-space underground car park had already been installed in Delamere Street when the original s34m project to deliver apartments, shops, cafes, restaurants and bars stalled two years ago.

Paul Gillespie, for Watkin Jones, emphasised the high quality development would be similar to the previously approved scheme and maintain key local views such as Chester Cathedral.n

City centre councillor Samantha Dixon (Lab), described the development as "huge" but the application was unanimously backed by councillors.