CITY conservationists have the future appearance of Woolies on Foregate Street in their sights.

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, have brought in Chester architects Leslie Jones to create a double height shop front.

The architects say 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 argue there are other double height shop fronts elsewhere in the city centre.

Chester's conservation area advisory committee says, however, it is “wholly opposed” to the move.

It describes 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, suggests the committee.

It feels it is likely the first floor windows will become cluttered “with unattractive displays and advertisements”.

Similar views have been expressed by Town Hall conservation officer John Healey.

In a report to Chester's planning board, development coordination manager Mr Brian Hughes says that although the changes “do not achieve the design ideals of the council's conservation officer or the conservation area advisory committee”, they represent a contemporary design approach to altering the building.

He suggests the assessment of design is “subjective” and says guidance from central government raises the importance of design with general support for good quality contemporary schemes.

Recommending the application should be approved, he believes that “on balance” the application preserves the character and appearance of the internationally important conservation area subject to a condition to prevent advertising and clutter behind the first floor windows.

The application is due to be considered at a meeting of the board at the Crowne Plaza hotel on Wednesday, January 7 at 10.30am.