Construction has finally started on a hotel that was dreamed up a decade ago.

Plans for a hotel next to St Werburgh’s Church on Grosvenor Park Road, Chester, were originally passed in 2008.

Previously the site was used as a Shell petrol station and latterly as a small car park.

Originally the plan was to open a three star Ibis hotel but the scheme went upmarket when Hotel Indigo got involved with permission granted for an 87-bed four star hotel in May, 2014.

This former petrol station site in Grosvenor Park Road, Chester, is earmarked for a 73-bed hotel.

Then last August applicants Castlebridge Hotels (Chester) Ltd received consent for a similar 73-bed hotel which is claimed to be an improvement on the previous permission that will also be operated by Hotel Indigo.

Each Hotel Indigo is uniquely designed to reflect the neighbourhood, character and history of the surrounding area.

A document accompanying the Chester hotel planning application states: “The proposal is for a 73 bedroom hotel with associated facilities including a small bar and restaurant – open to both residents and non-residents – and a residents-only gymnasium.

Artists' impressions showing what Hotel Indigo Chester will look like.

“The hotel will be operated under the Indigo brand, a boutique brand of the InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) chain. IHG provide more than 744,000 guest rooms globally and Indigo are one of 12 brands that form the IHG family.

“The brand Indigo has been purposely selected for the site as it is most suited to the location. The vision and ethos for Indigo hotels is to recognise that no two neighbourhoods are alike and by virtue neither are two Indigo hotels.

Work has started on a new 73-bed hotel in Grosvenor Park Road, Chester.

“The boutique brand seeks to reflect local architecture and character when developing new amenities and a unique ‘story’ will be attributed to the hotel to inform the design and feel.”

The design does not include a car park because of the provision of nearby public car parks, including multi-storey parking, but there will be a single disabled parking space and cycle parking for staff and residents.

Meanwhile, it was recently announced that easyHotel, owned by company that operates easyJet, will be the owners of a new 109-bed hotel to be built in nearby Forest Street.