CHESTER’S new theatre and cultural venue is expected to draw half a million people annually into the city centre – delivering a ‘real and lasting economic benefit’.

The prediction was revealed by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s executive member for culture and regeneration Stuart Parker in a speech to businesses on how the city could benefit from the showpiece development.

Cllr Parker told the gathering at the University of Chester that the £40.5m facility would generate economic benefit through direct and indirect employment, trading activity of the theatre and encouraging new economic activity.

He explained the new building – due to open in March 2016 – would operate from 9am to late evening, combining an 800-seat theatre, studio theatre, two cinemas and a relocated central library with a café, bar and public meeting rooms.

Cllr Parker said: “The new theatre will provide a creative hub that will revitalise this quarter of the city, standing alongside the cathedral and the refurbished Town Hall.

“We expect the whole Northgate Street area to experience an uplift from the theatre, with higher footfall and increased trading opportunities.

“Developers have also told us that investment in the theatre will make it easier to bring forward development on the Northgate site.”

The event was staged as part of the university’s new Knowledge Action Network aimed at small businesses.

Cllr Parker added: “Culture, and investment in culture, generates real and lasting economic benefit and can have a fundamental and far-reaching impact on the local economy.”