Works starts on Chester’s new business quarter

Construction is underway on City Place, the first phase of Muse Developments' £100m central business quarter next to Chester train station.

City Place will contain 440,000 sq ft of offices on a 3.5 acre development site.

Contractor Eric Wright Civil Engineering will deliver a 192-space car park for Network Rail over the next two months, on the site bounded by the rear of Queen Hotel and Queen's Road.

Completion of the car park will enable Muse Developments to begin construction work on a six-storey office block providing 70,000 sq ft of space by late 2015.

Stage two of the scheme is set to begin in late June, with construction of a unique arched pedestrian gateway to the business quarter, which will involve alteration and partial demolition of the frontage of Chester Station.

The third phase will include hard landscaping, tree and flower bed planting, lighting and street furniture, finished by autumn 2015.

Cllr Stuart Parker, executive member for culture and economy at Cheshire West & Chester Council, said: "This is one of the most significant developments in Chester's recent history. The Business Quarter will drive Chester's commercial offer and economic growth."

Phil Mayall, director of Muse Developments, said: "City Place is of huge strategic importance to Chester and the region and we are very pleased to see the Council commence work on the public realm which takes us a significant step closer to delivering our exciting plans."

The project is supported with a grant of £617,550 from the European Regional Development Fund.