A developer is appealing a council decision to reject a massive student complex in an area where traditional residents feel the community has become imbalanced.
Members of the public applauded when Cheshire West and Chester Council’s strategic planning committee turned down Miller Developments’ 350-bed scheme next to Telford's Warehouse at Tower Wharf in Chester this January.
Worries were raised about the impact on the character of the neighbourhood, the Telford's community pub and music venue and nearby streets because of parking overspill.
Members overturned their planning officer's recommendation for approval to one of refusal based on loss of employment land, harm to the conservation area and the detrimental effect on the local area and community.
Fiona Edwards, the council’s development planning manager, has now written to people who had previously made representations.
She said: “An appeal has been made to the Secretary of State against the decision of Cheshire West and Chester Council to refuse to grant planning permission for the above proposal.”
Ms Edwards said all previous representations had been forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate and the appellant to be considered by the inspector. She invited correspondents to make comments or modify/withdraw previous representations by May 19.
Andrew Sutherland, joint managing director of Miller Developments, told the planning committee meeting earlier this year that the existing permission for offices on the site had not been taken up because there was no demand.
The new proposal had been worked up in conjunction with the University of Chester who had a requirement for about 3,000 new units by 2016 and would manage the accommodation.
