Chester

[Paul D]

Originally Posted by hyacinthbucket

I must say that as a student currently studying at the uni, I find Chester anything but rowdy and dangerous. I should think most of the student population there agrees with me. The streets are largely very quiet in comparison to rowdy Liverpool or even rowdier Manchester! I've heard far more stories about things happening in Liverpool than I have Chester. Far, far more.

Probably because Liverpool is far,far bigger maybe?

[aek-94]

It's not Chester but nearby over the border in Flintshire, and is an important development;

Old RAF Sealand site set for 5,000 jobs and 1,100 homes


Up to 5,000 jobs could be created dedicated to advanced manufacturing

A multimillion-pound master plan to turn Flintshire's old RAF Sealand site into a major housing, retail and commercial park has been unveiled.

In September it was confirmed some of vacant Deeside site will be used for an enterprise zone, creating 5,000 jobs.

Now, the rest of the project has been revealed and plans include 1,100 houses, 50,000 sq ft of retail space and community and leisure facilities.

A formal planning application has yet to be submitted by developers.

The plans for the Northern Gateway project have been drawn up by developer Praxis Real Estate Management (PREM) which says the site will "attract major inward investment" to the area over the next 10 years.

It is known as the "Northern Gateway", which Flintshire council's regeneration department describe as the county's main employment site for the next 15 years.

Councillor Matt Wright, Flintshire's executive member for regeneration and tourism, said: "Despite the recession there is a lot of interest from companies.

"We want this to be the new Deeside Industrial Park.

NORTHERN GATEWAY MASTER PLAN

• 3 million sq ft of employment, industrial and manufacturing space
• Approx 50,000 sq ft of retail
• Up to 1,100 new homes next to Garden City
• Wildlife open spaces adjoining Dee estuary
• Links to Queensferry and beyond

Read More

[Paul D]

Some great news for the region.

Bank of America creating up to 1,000 jobs in Chester

Bank of America is to create up to 1,000 jobs in Chester by setting up a global technology and operations centre.

The news comes as the group announces a further 150 jobs losses from its separate MBNA credit card business, also in based in Chester Business Park.

Bank of America says the centre will part of its Global Technology and Operations organisation. Among other things, the facility will support the group’s global banking and markets and wealth management businesses across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

It is hoped that work to create the new centre will commence in 2012 and, if all goes to plan, it will be fully operational by mid-2013, creating a “significant number of jobs” in the Chester area.

Although Bank of America hasn’t revealed exactly how many jobs will be created it is believed up to 1,000 people may be employed at the centre.

Some of those roles may be filled by people redeployed from other parts of the group’s Chester operations.

Bank of America also announced that 150 jobs are to be lost at MBNA, which is currently up for sale, in addition to the 400 losses announced in October.

It hopes to achieve as many of the reductions as possible through voluntary means although it added that some compulsory redundancies were likely.

The group put MBNA, which currently employs 3,000 people at Chester, up for sale in August.

Bank of America’s Europe card executive, Ian O’Doherty, said: “The proposed reductions we are announcing today, while difficult, are vital in the context of the environment in which we are operating and as we prepare our European consumer credit card business for the best possible outcome.

“The announcement of Bank of America’s intention to create a new technology and operations centre in Chester is very welcome news. It will ensure that we remain a large employer in the region and a key contributor to the local community.”

Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/...#ixzz1d2Ppzg41

[aek-94]

Olympics spectacular comes to Chester racecourse
Jan 19, 2012

THOUSANDS of people are expected to descend on Chester racecourse for an awe-inspiring dance, light and sound show to welcome the Olympic torch to the city.

The Moment When... event will involve hundreds of professional and amateur dancers at a free evening performance on Tuesday, May 29.

Cheshire Dance and performance specialists Walk The Plank are behind the spectacular which will involve a range of specialist collaborators in dance, aerial work, music, light, costume, fire and pyrotechnics.

The event will welcome the Olympic torch to the stage during its 8,000-mile UK relay after it has been carried through Saltney.

Read More

[Chris J]

Cheshire West and Chester Council dumps ING partners to deliver Northgate Development - Full Story

CHESHIRE West and Chester Council aims to wrestle back control of the city’s stalled Northgate Development retail project by ditching its commercial partner.

The Tory council, with Labour support, has terminated its long-standing agreement with ING Real Estate because not a single brick has been laid after 12 years.

Full Story above link...

More here...

[Paul D]

Raceourse to create 1,000 jobs this summer

MORE than 1,000 jobs will be created this summer in Chester.
Chester Racecourse is looking to fill the huge number of vacancies from the local area for the upcoming racing season, which starts on May 9.


Annually the Racecourse recruits about 750 casual staff, however this year the figure has been boosted due to the creation and launch of chesterBET, the company’s own betting solution following the sale of the Tote last year.


The company is recruiting for a variety of roles including catering managers, waiting-on staff, bar staff and chefs within the catering division and betting supervisors and operators within the new betting division.


Full training is offered for all positions with the exception of chef roles.
Racecourse bosses will put new recruits through an extensive training and development programme to give them the skills to progress within the hospitality industry.


In March 2006 Matthew Alexander, from the Wirral, attended a recruitment open day at the Racecourse, and worked as a member of the catering team on a casual basis throughout four racing seasons.


Following completion of his university degree Matthew joined the team full time as a catering supervisor, and in August last year was promoted to junior operations manager.


He said: “Working for Chester Racecourse has been a great experience for me. I have developed my skills during my employment and taken the opportunities when they have presented themselves to progress within the business.


“The business is very accommodating and has been really flexible with timings of shifts and supported my educational development.”


Chester Racecourse hosts 15 race fixtures throughout the summer from May to September.


The May Festival, from May 9 to 11, attracts 63,000 racegoers.

[Chris J]

More Chester Jobs, were on a roll....

Two Primark Stores a few hundred yards apart

CONSTRUCTION workers have broken ground on a major retail project which is set to transform a vacant nightclub in Chester.

The former Brannigans nightclub, on Foregate Street, will be turned into an extension of the Primark fashion store on the
bustling Chester high street. Work began on the project about two weeks ago to level out the former nightclub at number 76,
to bring it to the same floor level as the existing store at number 60. more below

Full Story... Primark Extension plan for city nightclub

[Paul D]

Chester Zoo hopeful of 2012 start on Islands attraction

16 Mar 2012, 11:41

Planning advisors Barton Wilmore expect to submit a detailed application on behalf of Chester Zoo in late May for its £30m Islands project.

Outline planning permission has already been received for the plans. Pre-planning consultation is being held this month into the detailed plans to be put before Cheshire West & Chester Council.

Islands will be a recreation of habitats found in the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Bali, Sumatra, Sumba and Sulawesi.

Visitors will travel by boat or on foot and navigate mangroves, swamps, bamboo and tropical forests. There will also be a new Indonesian-style tropical house, which will be the largest indoor zoo exhibit in the UK and home to orangutans. The first phase features a 1.5km jungle path, 500,000 sq ft of landscaping and more than 25 buildings.

Dan Mitchell, partner in Barton Willmore's Manchester office, said: "This project is fundamental to the region's tourism strategy and will attract millions of new visitors to the area over the coming years.

"The project has been widely supported by the business community in the North West and many adjacent local authorities, which recognise the regional importance of Chester Zoo's Natural Vision."

Chester Zoo covers 110 acres and attracts 1.3 million visitors a year. Earlier plans for a £225m Heart of Africa bio-dome were shelved in spring 2011 after hopes for Government funding disappeared.

Dr Mark Pilgrim, director general of Chester Zoo, said: "Our wildlife expedition will be based on real life, real people and real stories and will be unlike anything seen in a UK zoo.

"These images show, for the first time, a flavour of what can be expected from our new development. Islands will not just showcase the areas that the zoo works but will be a platform for some of the most endangered animals on the planet."

Islands was designed by architects at Dan Pearlman group in Germany. If planning is approved, work will start on the project in autumn. Opening is scheduled for spring 2015.

[NQ Lee]

I am trying to find the plans for the development of the Shot Tower in Chester. I can only seem to find that permission has been granted for 33 homes and office/retail space with a cafe. Can anyone help with more detail and an idea when work will start. Thanks

[aek-94]

Quite a lot happening in Chester at the moment.

Call to make Wrexham, Deeside and Chester a city region
March 20, 2012


Connah's Quay Power Station

IDENTIFYING Wrexham, Deeside and Chester as a ‘city region’ would create thousands of jobs and elevate the economy.

On a visit to north east Wales yesterday, Dr Elizabeth Haywood – chair of the City Regions Task and Finish Group – said the area could be chosen because of it’s “critical mass” of population and businesses.

She added the A55 corridor was another possible target for Business Minister Edwina Hart, but felt the North Wales location with the best chance of becoming a ‘city region’ was around Wrexham.

Mrs Hart set-up the group to discover whether a more regional approach to economic development and planning would be beneficial, considering the key financial development opportunities and benefits. Among the expert panel, which will finish its consultation process on April 18, is Glyndwr University vice chancellor Mike Scott.

Read More

If the project below happens, I think it would signal the start of the expansion of the Chester urban area to the west into Wales.

A bridge over the Dee and 2,000 new homes?
22 March 2012


Proposed site of the project

AMBITIOUS plans have been unveiled to build 2,000 homes and a new River Dee road bridge.

The Water Meets Devolvement Group has produced a masterplan for a 170 hectare site stretching across Chester and Flintshire.

Central to the plan is a major new road and river crossing connecting Chester and Saltney Ferry, potentially linking with the A55 expressway.

It also includes proposals for a new school, doctors’ surgery, shops, offices and sports and leisure facilities.

Developers outlined the plans, commissioned by housebuildier Bloor Holdings, at a meeting of Saltney Town Council.

It is understood preliminary discussions have been held with Fintshire Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council planning officers.

Read More

[Paul D]

Quite a lot happening in Chester at the moment.

There certainly is.

A £36m Wrexham to Chester rail project is set to cut journey times
A £36m investment in the railway line between Wrexham and Chester is set to cut journey times and increase train services.

Parts of the new track will have speeds of up to 90mph (114km/h).

Seven miles (11km) of track, which has been a single line since the 1980s, is being re-doubled as part of the north-south Wales journey time project funded by the Welsh government.

The works are expected to be completed by early 2015.

Re-doubling the line has been one of Wrexham council's strategic rail objectives and has been a priority of Taith, the regional transport consortia, for some time.

David Bithell, lead member for transport and the environment with Wrexham council, said the news was "excellent" and indicated the importance of the route.

"Our elected members' rail group has lobbied directly, and through Taith, for investment and improvements to this section of railway," he said.

The scheme will also mean improved journey times between Gobowen and Shrewsbury with an increase in line speed up to 90 mph, at a further cost of £9.8m.

Mr Bithell added: "When these improvements are completed we will have the potential to investigate new stations and for increasing the number of trains from hourly to every 30 minutes.

"With the consistent rise in passenger number at all our stations, we will continue to press for increased services to more destinations."

[NQ Lee]

Originally Posted by NQ Lee

I am trying to find the plans for the development of the Shot Tower in Chester. I can only seem to find that permission has been granted for 33 homes and office/retail space with a cafe. Can anyone help with more detail and an idea when work will start. Thanks

Are there no Chester people on here that can help me with this. Can't seem to find any detailed information.

[Joe the red]

Any use?

http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/ch...9067-30104661/

[romablue]

This link might be of help:-

http://www.broadwaymalyan.com/2012/0...-a-step-closer

[Willoughby]

http://www.acme.ac/node/525

[Chris J]

Originally Posted by Willoughby

http://www.acme.ac/node/525

Thanks for posting...