Plans to convert former office buildings into 176 city centre apartments look set to go ahead. 

The original application was made on the basis that the proposed change of use would be permitted development, not requiring planning permission from the Council.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has now given prior approval for change of use.

Blueoak Estates is seeking to convert the vacant building on Charterhall Drive.

Constructed in the early 1980s as office accommodation, the most recent occupants were Lloyds banking, who left the site in 2019.

The site stands empty, covered in graffiti with multiple smashed windows (Nub News)

Today, the site stands empty, covered in graffiti with multiple smashed windows. 

The site contains two vacant office buildings together with associated landscaping and a total of 122 car parking spaces. 

The proposals to convert the buildings will deliver total of 176 apartments, with a a mix of one and two-bedroom dwellings.

There will be communal facilities in the form of workspaces, gyms, cinema room, cycle and refuse stores. 

The main building, Charterhall House, is a seven storey building, whilst Tower House is four storeys. 

Therefore, this application proposes no changes to the external appearance of the building.

The application site is located off Charterhall Drive, approximately one mile to the west of Chester city centre (Nub News)

The application site is located off Charterhall Drive, approximately one mile to the west of Chester city centre.

The site is within the Chester Northern Gateway Regeneration Area, where Cheshire West and Chester council are seeking high quality office and residential development.

During the pre-application discussions between August 2023 and November 2023, officers did not support the construction of new-build apartment blocks to the north of the site, or the rooftop extensions to provide additional floors.

They were, however, generally supportive of the conversion of the existing building to residential use.

It is unclear whether or not the developer intends to submit any more applications for further works (Nub News)

The council were also supportive of the replacement of existing windows and creation of new openings to accompany the conversion for residential use.

It is unclear whether or not the developer intends to submit any more applications for further works.

You can find the link to the planning application here.