Plans have been submitted to convert an empty unit on Northgate Street into an adult gaming centre.

Webber's Leisure LTD, which also owns a similar centre on Frodsham Street, has asked for planning permission to remodel the shop, formerly home to clothing retailer, Lambretta, which left the premises in August 2022.

If approved, the venue would be restricted to customers aged 18 and over, with opening times ranging from 9am to 11pm.

The application to Cheshire West and Chester Council said a number of attempts to market the grade II listed property have been made with a "limited" number of enquiries submitted.

As a result, the application emphasised the potential benefit of the conversion as the unit remains empty.

It said: "There are a number of restrictions associated with the property which mean that it does not easily lend itself to a retail use.

"This includes a small window frontage for a retailer, accessibility, servicing conditions, neighbouring uses and uncertainty regarding the Northgate Scheme."

Repurposing the empty unit would create six jobs, with a mix of part-time and full-time positions ranging from managerial to cleaning staff.

Citing the potential benefits of the project, the application said: "The proposed development will provide for the efficient re-use of a vacant listed building to return it to an optimum viable use.

"The proposal will bring a vacant unit back into a positive use and serve to reinstate and maintain an active frontage on to Northgate Street.

"The proposed change of use will help to maintain visitor footfall and make a positive contribution to the continued long-term vitality and viability of the city centre.

"There will be no physical changes/alterations to the fabric of the building either internally or externally, no harm will arise.

"Given that all the activities associated with the proposed use would take place indoors, any noise generator would be limited and would not ave a signifiant adverse effect on residential amenity."

You can comment on and find the application here.