Final phase of £19m Blacon regen kicks off 

A project to create a pair of laboratory buildings at Parkgate Road Campus has been refused amid concerns that the development could unacceptably increase on-street parking in the area. 

A project to create a pair of laboratory buildings at Parkgate Road Campus, part of an upgrade of the university’s science and engineering faculty, is earmarked for approval by Cheshire West & Chester Council. 

Restaurant chain The Florist has signed to open a two-storey outlet at the under construction mixed-use scheme in Chester city centre.

Walker & Williams has lodged plans to redevelop derelict buildings on Nicholas Street next to Chester Racecourse to create a 52-bedroom hotel, and refurbish eight residential properties on the same street. 

The developer, whose plans for student housing on Hoole Way in Chester were refused in 2017, has won approval for a 100,000 sq ft hotel instead on the same site.

After completing enabling work, construction of the £70m development is underway with Vinci continuing on site.

Plans to expand the African savannah habitat, which had been due to open in 2022, have been delayed as the zoo works to recover from the financial impact of Covid-19, which left a “deep scar” on its business. 

Work is to restart on a £21m dementia care village in Chester, following Belong's appointment of Seddon Construction to take over the unfinished project after the collapse of Pochin's last summer.

The meandering saga of the £70m mixed-use project has taken another turn with Cheshire West & Chester Council’s cabinet asked to agree to a "revised financing arrangement" in light of the pandemic.