Chester BID appoints Farrall to board  

The city’s business improvement district has appointed Warrington Council’s former head of regeneration Andy Farrall to its board of directors to help guide Chester’s recovery from the pandemic. 

Katrina Kerr, Chester BID chair, said: “Andy brings a huge amount of expertise to our board, in both a tourism recovery remit and in the resuscitation of economic growth in a challenging climate.  

“He has an exemplary understanding of the wider Covid landscape, and he brings to our board a brilliant strategic mind. He is used to implementing schemes for city centre resurgence and has a track record of helping cities like Chester future proof its offering.” 

Farrall spent 12 years at Warrington Council and oversaw projects such as the revamp of the town’s market hall and the Warrington Omega industrial development. 

He left the council last summer and set up his own consultancy, providing advice on urban planning and design, economic growth and development projects to public and private sector partners. 

Last December, Farrall was appointed as interim chief executive of Marketing Cheshire and interim deputy chief executive of Cheshire and Warrington LEP, replacing Mark Livesey who left to take up a position within the national LEP Network. 

Farrall held the positions for six months until the appointment of Joe Manning in April.

In May, Farrall rejoined the LEP on a part-time basis, providing support to the organisation’s Covid-19 economic recovery strategy.

Farrall said: “Chester is suffering on a number of fronts and is facing some acute challenges that need addressing urgently with both leadership and creativity. As part of the BID board, I’m looking forward to bringing my skills, experience and energy to help the BID and the city through these challenging times to a more prosperous and colourful future.” 

The Chester BID board includes former Marketing Cheshire chief executive Kerr, Andrew Lewis, chief executive of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Nigel Driver, commercial manager of the Grosvenor Estate and Michelin-starred chef Simon Radley.