A NEW image of the £60m first phase of the Chester Northgate scheme reveals a ‘green living wall’ and the use of ‘natural timber’.

It comes ahead of the latest architects plans being made available for public viewing on Thursday next week (March 28).

A formal planning consultation on the scheme will also begin at the same time and will continue until April 18.

Phase 1 of the overall £300m retail, leisure and housing project will include a new modern market, six-screen cinema, restaurants, public square and car parking.

Unit 7 at the Forum Shopping Centre has been open since February capturing the views of people about the scheme.

Lead architect Dominic Manfred, of AHR architects, said: “A strong theme that has come out of all the stakeholder engagement and public consultation held to date is for Northgate Phase 1 to incorporate natural elements such as green living walls to reflect the beautiful Cheshire countryside and natural timber to reflect the dominant materiality of the City.

“There has also been a strong preference to create a vibrant new destination for Chester which is extraordinary and unexpected, building upon the success of Storyhouse”.

Cheshire West and Chester Council secured planning permission in 2016 for the relocation of the existing market currently operating in The Forum Shopping Centre, together with a new six-screen cinema to be operated by Picturehouse above the new building.

In addition plans were secured to make changes to the old library building which will become an arcade providing connections from Town Hall Square to the new public square.

A CWaC spokesman said: “Chester’s indoor Market has been transformed during the past year attracting over a million visitors eager to sample the growing range of international food, craft beers and visit the many new traders.

“Northgate aims to create a 21st century market for the city, building on the growing success of the existing market.

“Adding to the phenomenal success of Storyhouse, Chester Northgate will bolster the city’s leisure and culture offer, as well as providing more jobs in the heart of Chester. The scheduled start on site for enabling works will be late autumn, with a full start on site in early 2020. “

For further detail visit the website www.chesternorthgate.com