Council plans which will see over 400 homes built in the city centre have now been assigned a preferred development partner.

The next stage of the Chester Northgate Future Phases scheme will be discussed on 9 July, where Cheshire West and Chester Council's cabinet will be asked to select VINCI UK Developments Ltd for the project.

It is believed the Chester Northgate Future Phases scheme will support the future viability of the city centre, by increasing the number of residents and footfall to support Northgate Phase One.

Plans will deliver over 400 "high quality, low carbon homes", of which 30% will be affordable, in a "highly sustainable" location in the heart of Chester city centre.

This forms part of a larger target of 4,400 new homes to be delivered over the life of the plan, re-purposing existing buildings where possible, and demolishing any buildings at the end of their life.

This will replace empty shops and buildings built mostly in the 1960s which are no longer fit for purpose. In their place, will be modern, affordable and sustainable town centre living, with public spaces and supporting infrastructure.

Last July, a report was taken to cabinet to agree a delivery model for the regeneration plans for Northgate Future Phases.

It was agreed that a development partner was needed to bring both development expertise and capital investment to the process to form a deliverable masterplan.

Delivery will be subcontracted by VINCI UK Developments Ltd to a Joint Venture between VINCI UK Developments Ltd and ION Property Developments Ltd.

Across both schemes, each submission was evaluated against key criteria including quality, commercial and social value.

This provided a framework to ensure that each bid addressed the council's principal objectives for each scheme, such as high quality and contemporary design, with experience of working on other urban regeneration schemes elsewhere, and a track record of producing good quality designs, whilst considering the heritage of the area.

Councillor Nathan Pardoe said: "The Weaver Square and Northgate Future Phases schemes are both once in a generation opportunities to create vibrant and sustainable residential-led neighbourhoods in the heart of Northwich and Chester.

"These two major regeneration schemes will bring increased footfall, vitality and long-term economic opportunity."

Cllr Pardoe outlined the next stage of the process will be the signing of a Pre-Development Agreement.

He added: "We look forward to a collaborative and productive relationship with VINCI UK Developments Ltd and ION Property Developments Ltd, to help us to realise the ambitions of Northwich and Chester.

"VINCI and ION will work with the Northwich and Chester communities to co-produce masterplans for the two sites, putting the aspirations of local residents at the centre of the new developments.

"Thank you to all who have been involved in shaping and working on these schemes so far."