New plans lodged for former Chester medical centre after Wetherspoon U-turn
The vacant building could be brought back into use
10 Upper Northgate Street with ShiftWorks Ltd, left, looking to combine the two properties(Image: Planning documents)
Fresh plans have been lodged to bring a vacant Chester city centre building back into use. Both full planning and listed building consent applications have been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council for the former medical centre at 10 Upper Northgate Street.
The proposal forms part of expansion plans by the applicant and neighbouring property ShiftWorks Ltd, at 12-14 Upper Northgate Street. which contains a coffee shop, serviced office spaces and residential flats. The plans would see internal alterations carried out to join together the two buildings in order to create further office space, as well as the creation of a single-storey rear extension.
Wetherspoon had previously secured planning permission back in 2023 to expand the adjoining Bull and Stirrup Hotel at 8 Upper Northgate Street and create eight extra rooms by combining the pub with the vacant medical centre. The pub company then lodged fresh expansion plans in early 2024 - which would see 12 extra rooms created - but were subsequently withdrawn.
Now ShiftWorks Ltd's plans for the listed building have emerged. The design and access statement reads: "The existing building is currently vacant and its last known use was as a doctors’ surgery. The accompanying application seeks consent for the erection of a single storey extension to the rear along with some internal alterations to join No.14 with No.10 Upper Northgate Street.
"The proposed extension will be subservient to the main building will not be visible from any public access ways As an existing vacant building within the Chester City Centre Conservation Area, bringing the building back into use makes a positive contribution to the immediate area. This will secure the future of the building.
"A new ground-floor extension is proposed to provide direct access between No. 10 and No.14 Upper Northgate Street. This will enable the expansion of the existing serviced office accommodation currently located at ground and basement levels into No.10 Upper Northgate street."