Member Article

Work starts on major Cheshire regeneration project

Work has begun on a major urban regeneration project in Chester that will include both commercial and residential elements.

Diggers have now started flattening dilapidated shops and other buildings at Blacon Parade, as part of the £19.5 million redevelopment.

More than 60 new homes, shops, community buildings and a health centre will be built with the work expected to take be completed in about two years. A new market square will be created and some existing shops will be refurbished.

Sanctuary Group, which owns Chester and District Housing Trust, will manage the project alongside Western Cheshire Primary Care Trust and Cheshire West and Cheshire Council.

David Soothill, head of development for Sanctuary, said: “The plans for Blacon Parade are far-reaching and life enhancing, and Sanctuary Group is excited to be part of this project.

“New housing is a fundamental part of the scheme, with the creation of 62 affordable homes for rent. This will include 36 apartments especially for the over 55s as well as eight one-bedroom apartments and a mix of 18 two and three bedroom houses.”

Redeveloping The Parade neighbourhood has been on the agenda for 10 years but the project stalled during the economic downturn.

Chester and District Housing Trust instructed DTM Legal in the acquisition of the necessary land interests and to progress the relocation of existing tenants, allowing the construction process to commence.

Partner and head of property at DTM, Matthew Robinson, said: “The scale and nature of this project required sensitive negotiation with business owners who are directly affected by the regeneration process of the Blacon Parade scheme.

“The property team at DTM Legal have been committed to swift negotiation, successfully securing new property and new lease agreements for existing tenants on the site.

“Following complex and extensive negotiations with many different users, all tenants have been successfully relocated and work is now underway.”

Blacon has about 16,000 residents and the redevelopment aims to improve their health, welfare, living standards, education and employment opportunities.

The scheme will have a phased completion, with the housing due to be ready in March, 2015 and the whole project being completed in November, 2015.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .