CAMPAIGNERS against a controversial £100m student village are claiming victory after a senior council planning expert recommended councillors refuse the planning application at a crucial meeting next week.
Friends of North Chester Greenbelt have welcomed area planning manager Mark Lynch’s official report about the 2,300-bed complex and Steve Redgrave sports institute proposed by Chester-based Bell Developments on green belt land between Blacon and Mollington.
While expressing disappointment, brothers Mike and Dave Bell believe the case for the scheme will be overwhelming when presented to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s strategic planning committee next Thursday.
Area planning manager Mark Lynch concluded the applicants had failed to prove the ‘very special circumstances’ needed to justify what is classed as ‘inappropriate development’ according to green belt policies designed to prevent urban sprawl.
He found:
The ‘speculative’ scheme does not have the explicit support of the University of Chester
Future growth in university numbers is ‘insufficient’ to support a 2,300-bed scheme
More sustainable urban locations for student accommodation are in the pipeline
Promises the student village will alleviate studentification in the Garden Quarter are unsubstantiated
Views of the historic city skyline would be harmed
No specific need has been identified for the Redgrave health and fitness centre.
Friends of North Chester Greenbelt spokesman Andy Scargill said: “This has been a long drawn-out battle and a lot of recognition must go to the local communities and representatives of Blacon, Mollington and elsewhere who fought hard all along. They have shown that working together in a proper and informed way can eventually succeed.
“Our aim all along has been to protect this important piece of Chester’s heritage from inappropriate speculative development – we are pleased that Cheshire West and Chester Council have recognised the green belt’s importance too.
“It is our wish that we can now, as a local community, put this matter behind us and get on with building Chester’s future in a way that celebrates our city.”
However, the developers remain confident of success and have indicated they will appeal if the scheme is rejected by the local authority.
Director Dave Bell said: “The economic benefit of this project alone to the community has been calculated at £270m, it will create over 800 jobs in the five year build programme, 220 full time jobs and around 120 apprenticeships, designed for local people. These are just the headline figures of the economic benefit.
“Most importantly of course, it will provide outstanding accommodation and facilities in a purpose built, safe, secure and easily commutable student village and protect communities of Chester from the ‘studentification’ that has happened in the Garden Lane area.”
His brother and fellow director Mike added: “My chief concern is that if we are not successful with achieving planning permission for this project, with all its tangible benefits, then Corporate UK may well decide that Chester is simply closed for business and with little or no investment going forward we will become an economic backwater. I sincerely hope it doesn’t come to that.”
