Plans to create a must-see visitor attraction overlooking the amphitheatre have fallen through – as The Chronicle can reveal the council uses the tourist spot as a ‘storage facility’ for building materials.

For years, Dee House has stood as a boarded-up shell overshadowing the ruins of the famous Roman landmark, which draws tens of thousands of visitors to the city every year.

Earlier this year, plans were revealed to transform the derelict former convent into a ‘high-tech international tourist attraction’ which Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) hoped 400,000 tourists would pay to enter every year.

But the plans have been put on hold after structural engineers allegedly pulled out of the deal, saying the building “wasn’t safe” and needed “too much investment”.

Patrick Parsons, which has ongoing projects at World Heritage Status sites including Durham Cathedral, declined to comment on its reasons for withdrawing from the scheme, but Chester Renaissance said the renovations could cost “millions”.

CWaC is using the grounds of the 18th century town house as a “storage facility” for building material for construction workers.

Tourists have criticised the “shabby” appearance of fire-damaged Dee House, the front of which has been littered with bricks and bags of concrete for years.

Once home to BT, Dee House cannot be demolished despite standing on remains of Britain’s largest Roman amphitheatre – as it is a Grade II listed building.

Steve Howe, who runs guided tours and takes tourists to the amphitheatre, said visitors were often ‘shocked’ by the ‘shambolic’ state of the area and Dee House had not been demolished to uncover more of the historic monument.

He said: “It is a disgrace. People say ‘what is that rotting building sitting on it?’ It is an embarrassment.”

Cheshire Renaissance, which was working with CWaC on the project, confirmed plans had been put on hold after Patrick Parsons pulled out of the scheme due to cost issues.

Eric Langton, chairman of Chester Renaissance, said: “It is really sad that the scheme we were hoping we could go forward with does not look like it is going to happen at this stage.

“It is the sheer cost, we are talking millions of pounds to do something with it.”

A spokesperson for CWaC denied the council was leasing out the land to building companies, adding: “We use it when we are doing work within the city. These are our schemes, we are not renting it out.”