A DEAD man's dream will be destroyed if planning permission is granted to change a listed building from a college into offices.

West Cheshire College wants to sell Grade II-listed Greenbank centre on Eaton Road, Handbridge, for revenue to pay for the proposed campus on Northgate Avenue.

Developer Thomas Warrington Homes Ltd is applying for permission to erect 13 houses on surrounding land and use the Georgian-style house for offices instead of education.

But Chester historian Len Morgan says the proposal should not go ahead, because of conditions in a will which bequeathed the building to education in Chester 45 years ago.

He said: 'In 1960 former Chester mayor and Ellesmere Port steelworks owner Peter Jones bequeathed the house and 11 acres of land going down to the river in a trust to the city of Chester, for the purpose of adult education and training of teachers and young people in good citizenship.

'I think it's very sad that the house may be sold and changed - it isn't what Peter Jones bequeathed, it's exactly what he wanted to stop'

West Cheshire College principal Sara Mogel said: 'The trust is for educational use but the building itself can be used for any purpose and profits from the sale of the building will help us move a step closer to our proposed city-centre campus.

She added: 'We plan to name part of the new building after the founder of the trust, Edward Peter Jones.'

Chester City Council's planning department this week said the application by Thomas Warrington Homes had been invalidated because it was incomplete. It is expected to be re-submitted soon and will face public consultation.