Buyer sought for central Chester site
Formerly home to a Quicks car dealership, the 48,000 sq ft Lower Bridge Street building has also previously seen proposals for 48 homes.
Legat Owen is marketing the freehold sale of the ex-Quicks showroom, which sits at the junction with Duke Street, within Chester’s city walls. It is being sold on a ‘price on application’ basis.
Place understands that Redrow founder Steve Morgan is the owner of the site. Morgan’s Bridgemere Estates was the applicant for a residential scheme proposed for the site in 2018.
As set out by the agent, the building occupies a roughly L-shaped plot, with a footprint area of 0.58 acres and a gross internal area of 47,971 sq ft over three floors, along with a rooftop car park.
As set out in the sales brochure, the property is considered suitable for a variety of alternative uses, subject to obtaining the necessary statutory consents.
Residential plans were pursued in 2018. Credit: planning documents
It sits adjacent to St Olave’s church to the north, with residential properties to the east. It fronts Lower Bridge Street and Duke Street at its western and southern boundary respectively.
The site was subject of a planning application made in December 2018 for demolition and redevelopment into 43 apartments, five townhouses, and two ground floor commercial units, a scheme designed by AFL. The application was never determined.
Prior to that, the site had been lined up by Sainsbury’s in the years following Quicks’ 2007 departure, according to reports.
On the edge of the prime retail core, Lower Bridge Street is regarded as a principal route in Chester city centre, with a range of retail and leisure occupiers.
Let’s hope something attractive goes here. This nasty lump needs to be razed. Any developer also needs to bear in mind that CWAC are currently drawing up a design code for the borough.
By Rye
About time as this has been a complete eyesore on such a architecturally rich street for far too long. Chester has a chronic housing shortage so this is urgently needed. The design needs to the be of the highest quality. The city needs to get all remaining derelict sites such as this developed to help fill the housing need.
By GetItBuilt!
This site has been vacant for far too long!, particularly being owned by a housebuilder. Please someone take it on soon with such a prime location.
By Cestrian
Here’s hoping the eyesore soon gets redeveloped!
By Anonymous
This is an example of the worst type of property owner. Sitting on something. Doing nothing. Adding an eyesore. And all based on greed. These come and go and several examples playing out in Manchester currently. Greed.
By Lethargy
Let’s be honest if Steve Morgan is selling it then there must be an issue with it!
By Phil Ingham
How about Chester “geting with the times” and sticking a skyscraper on the site?
By Freddy
Now it’s just a hotel for pigeons
By Anonymous
I hope it goes ahead it has been empty for years
By John
Chester has too many eyesores like this along with the derelict Dee House and the old Honda dealership in Hoole. Let’s hope something actually happens this time
By David Hampson
I remember the showroom and workshop as a kid and I’m 37 now. Some nostalgia from how dealerships actually made the effort with showrooms. Would be nice to see it converted rather than knocked down….granted it is a late eye sore compared to the older buildings. But if designed right, it will still be better and stronger than the new rubbish that’s built today.
By Phil
It would make a great location for a combined Museum and Visitor Centre.
By TonyTea
Yes something attractive at last
By K may
Should be made a condition that whoever is granted planning consent, is made to refurbish St Olave’s church and bring it back into public use.Also remove the scaffolding and props that have been outside the church as long as I can remember! Another blot on the Chester landscape!
By George James
Considering the age of this building it may have the problem of decaying cement in its structure like a lot of old buildings recently that have been closed. Just saying.
By F.Neil
I wonder how much council tax is not being paid on this land banked property
By Mark Evans
I would love to see luxury flats but not expensive style, the price could be no more than £150k each,for local residents.
By Mark povey
I remember going past this on the bus and seeing cars there for sale, mid to late 80s. Shame it’s been empty for so long. When you see new buildings being built and businesses moving in, why not the old buildings that have been abandoned!
By Good 'ol days!
About time, such an eyesore. Compulsory purchase years ago would have reaped benefits.
By Anonymous
@February 20, 2025 at 9:56 pm
By Freddy
‘Getting with the times’ is certainly *not* putting a skyscraper on it. An historic Continental city wouldn’t do this – and I’m glad Chester wouldn’t either.
By Rye
Hands up, Lethargy, Evans and Povey if you thought the pic would have been an improvement on the Quicks site? It would have been in my opinion but the historic bodies objected in part due to scale and massing. It costs tens of thousands to submit an application and whether you like it or not, property only gets built if you can make it work financially. The quantum in those pics was too much for the historic/conservation objections and reducing the quantum didn’t make it financially viable. Whichever side of the fence you sit, that’s the tightrope you’re on here, not greed, not land banking and not handicapping yourself with revenues fixed at £150K I’m afraid.
By Mr N Imby