Chester Scheme No Longer on the Table

The owners of a car park in Chester have confirmed it will remain in place as plans to build student accommodation on the site have been abandoned.

Chester Race Company is no longer in a joint venture with London-based Stephenson Group to deliver a 544-bed scheme on the former stables site.

Planning permission was granted in 2013 after approval was given by then Secretary of State Eric Pickles.

A commercial agreement was then signed between the two companies in 2015 but it is understood that Stephenson Group was unable to find an end user to buy the scheme.

Commenting on the site, Chester Race Company chief executive Richard Thomas, said: "It's our site so if someone wants to buy it at the right price. But we are keen to see what happens with Northgate and everything else. It's a valuable site. For the time-being it will stay as a car park. We're not in any great hurry to do anything with it."

Construction of the student accommodation never started despite archaeological investigations and the temporary closure of the car park.

News that the development is no longer on the agenda will be welcomed by neighbours who objected to the scheme.