PLANS will be lodged this Friday for a controversial £100m student village which has divided the community.

Bell Developments is promoting the 2,500-bed campus on fields between Blacon and Mollington but must prove ‘very special circumstances’ to get planning permission because the site lies in green belt.

Brothers Mike and Dave Bell aim to capitalise on the continuing expansion of the University of Chester which has about 12,900 city-based students.

And their argument is that a dedicated student village is desperately needed because areas like the Garden Quarter have become imbalanced due to number of family homes being turned into student bed-sits.

However, some people living in Mollington and Blacon don’t want to overlook student housing when their current outlook is onto a large green field.

Bell Developments argue the site is well located being 15-minutes walking distance or five-minutes by cycle from the university’s main campus via a proposed pedestrian link along the Shropshire Union canal and a new cycle path along Parkgate Road.

Bell hope the accompanying leisure facilities, available for use by the community, will help persuade locals of the benefits.

Among the features would be:

A new sports centre and playing pitches

An exercise trail

New footpaths linking into the proposed Countess Country Park.

There would also be tree planting, landscaping and ponds providing recreational and ecological benefits.

Mike Bell, of Bell Developments, said: “This new student village will radically improve the attractiveness of Chester University for prospective students especially following the announcement by vice chancellor Professor Tim Wheeler, ‘to drop student fees’ which will only increase the growth of students applying to Chester.”

Bell’s planning consultants recognise the site lies in green belt but argue there are ‘no other sites large enough or sustainably located’ to meet student needs.

The scheme, which has been subject to ongoing community engagement, is expected to be determined by Cheshire West and Chester Council in late spring following the statutory public consultation.

The project would be built by Pochin, creating 600 construction jobs.

For more information visit: www.chesterstudentvillage.co.uk. You can also email the team at information@chesterstudentvillage.co.uk with your contact details or leave a short message on 01924 876876 making reference to ‘Chester Student Village’.