THE future appearance of Woolies on Foregate Street looks set to be resolved.
The three storey, 1960s/1970s architecture property is to be occupied by leading value fashion retailer Primark.
Owners Redevco, one of Europe's largest retail estate groups, brought in Chester architects Leslie Jones to create a double height shop front.
The architects said first floor brick work would be removed and replaced by full height glazing to deal with the "poor quality" appearance of the front of the building.
They argued there are other double height shop fronts elsewhere in the city centre.
Chester's conservation area advisory committee said it was "wholly opposed" to the change.
It described the existing building, designed by international architects the Building Design Partnership, as one of the more successful modern changes to the appearance of the city centre.
The architecture of the time was successfully adapted to meet Chester's distinctive character, suggested the committee.
It felt it likely the first floor windows would become cluttered "with unattractive displays and advertisements."
Similar views were expressed by Town Hall conservation officer Mr John Healey.
"I am rather of the view that this building is one of the more successful recent interventions in the city's streetscape," he said.
He felt the solid brick at first floor level was "crucial" and suggested that any alterations to the brickwork "would have to be very cleverly done."
Chester Civic Trust described the building as "high quality" and pointed out it was "sufficiently noteworthy" to be included in its book on the city's architectural legacy.
Manchester based consultants HOW planning told the City Council:"At a time when many retailers are facing severe difficulties, it is more critical than ever that works to make stores as attractive to shoppers and as viable as possible to occupiers are considered in a favourable light".
In a report to Chester's planning board, development coordination manager Mr Brian Hughes said that although the changes "do not achieve the design ideals of the council's conservation officer or the conservation area advisory committee", they represented a contemporary design approach to altering the building.
Boughton Heath City Cllr Jim Latham, an architect, told the board the introduction of glazing would "totally destroy the original designer's intention."
Describing the application as "not very impressive" he suggested there might be a case for retaining some of the brickwork, perhaps by adding glazing to the centre of the frontage only.
"This is held in high regard as a building of its type and a sincere approach to create a modern building which would fit in with Chester's streets," argued Cllr Latham.
Planning chairman Cllr Andrew Storrar (Con, Saughall) suggested a decision might be deferred while development control manager Miss Fiona Edwards felt:"There may be a better solution.''
This was agreed.
Councillors are now due to hear that changes have been made and the glazing will appear as first floor windows.
Some brickwork will be retained.
"This is considered to provide an improved alternative solution," suggests Mr Hughes.
It is said to be acceptable to conservation officers.
The application, which is recommended for approval, is due to be considered at a meeting of Chester's planning board taking place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the city centre on Wednesday (January 28) at 10.30am.
