UNIVERSITY College Chester's plans for a multi-million pound 1,000 seater performing arts centre have been delayed with the venue now expected to open in 2007.
As reported in The Chronicle last July, the centre at the Parkgate Road campus was due to open in the summer of 2006 with the college expected to apply for planning permission last autumn.
But an application was not made, which meant construction couldn't start.
Despite the delay, college principal Professor Timothy Wheeler says plans for the state-of-the-art facility are still on track.
He said: 'Architects have been appointed, as have the sound engineers. We are now in the final stages of a detailed proposal to apply for planning permission.'
Prof Wheeler says construction should start this autumn, with the centre opening in time for spring 2007, just two years before the Chester Gateway Theatre's replacement arts centre opens on the Town Hall Square.
He said: 'The uses of the two art centres are very different. Our arts centre is fundamentally for students studying courses in art, drama and dance.'
As Chester seriously lacks a substantial music venue it is hoped the centre could be a welcome addition to the city as it will allow residents to enjoy performances they would usually only be able to see in Liverpool or Manchester.
Though many of today's top acts would still require a venue of at least a 5,000 capacity, many up-and-coming bands will be attracted to the arts centre's size.
With 1,000 seats, the venue will become a major player in the North West as it will have more seats than Liverpool's Playhouse Theatre (950 seats), Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre (785), Lyceum Theatre in Crewe (695) and could be twice the size of the planned arts centre as part of the Northgate Development.
