Wirral and Cheshire luxury homes developer Blueoak Estates is to convert two former city centre bank buildings into a multi-million pound apartments complex. Tony McDonough reports
Two former bank buildings close to Chester train station totalling 105,000 sq ft are to be converted into luxury apartments.
Banking giant Lloyds vacated the 60,000 sq ft Charterhall House and the 45,000 sq ft Tower House in 2019 and put them on the market in 2021. They sit on a four-acre plot of land.
Now developer Blueoak Estates, which has delivered a number of high-end residential schemes in Wirral and Cheshire, has announced it will submit a planning application to create 176 apartments in what is known as the Gateway Quarter of Chester.
Managing director Iain MacLean said the framework and integrity of both buildings will be retained in full rather than demolish and rebuild.
He added: “The Blueoak ethos centres on building a sustainable legacy and this site and development illustrates this approach.
“The site location, the design path we have chosen, the materials we will use, and the technologies employed, are centred around a wider sustainable vision.
“We believe that this development will help nurture and cultivate a wider urban community that is undoubtedly building in Chester.
“We are seeing more city and town centre landscapes reimagined and our buildings must be given a new purpose and direction.”
READ MORE: Chester goes Underground to attract more visitors
READ MORE: TJ Hughes returns to profit one year after move
Located on the banks of the Shropshire Union Canal, the scheme sits across a seven-storey and four-storey building. It will incorporate solar panels across the roof.
Communal facilities will include bike storage with chargers, residents’ rooftop garden, cinema room, gym, and breakout workspace.
Iain added: “We are seeing a clear shift in how we live and work that’s resulting in many purpose-built commercial buildings no longer being in use, left abandoned and very much unloved.
“This scheme is our largest and most ambitious scheme in Chester to date. These are incredibly well-known landmark buildings that will now be given a new future and clear purpose.”