A HOUSEBUILDER has confirmed it hopes to create luxury homes on the site of a former MOD building which played a key role in the Second World War.

Last September the Chronicle revealed Redrow was keen to buy the Queen’s Park site from the Lloyds Banking Group after it vacated what was originally built as the headquarters for the Army’s Western Command.

Now Redrow Homes has confirmed it has been selected as the preferred developer to deliver a high-quality residential scheme at the site overlooking the Dee.

It is unknown whether Redrow intends to convert the original large new neo-Georgian building constructed for the Army in 1938.

Company spokeswoman Linda Bright said: “The award-winning housebuilder will now talk to local residents’ groups and planners to begin drawing up a scheme for luxury new homes on the site. A public consultation event and exhibition will be held this spring and further details will be released in due course.”

Following the public consultation event, Redrow will look to submit a formal planning application in the summer.

Cllr Herbert Manley, executive member for prosperity at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “The authority has had preliminary discussions with Redrow and has emphasised the importance of the former Western Command site – both above and below the ground.

“While the original Neo-Georgian headquarters building is not listed, it does have some architectural merit and occupies a prime site on the banks of the River Dee.

“Included in the Handbridge conservation area, it would require conservation area permission should demolition be proposed.

“Consequently, we would be seeking a top-quality scheme which both preserves and enhances the character of the conservation area.”

Last year website Handbridge. com conducted a survey asking what residents’ preferred option was for the future of the site.

The results showed opinion fairly evenly divided between the housing option (43%) and the other previously mooted alternative of a hotel (48%).

Less than one in 10 of the 119 respondents said they would prefer the site to continue as offices and nobody wanted it to be converted into an educational establishment.

Redrow’s purchase of the site is understood to be dependent on a successful planning application.