Investment opportunities
Northgate Future Phases
Chester Northgate Future Phases Update
On 9 July 2025 Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet selected VINCI UK Developments Ltd and ION Property Developments Ltd as the Council’s preferred developer partner for Chester Northgate Future Phases following a procurement exercise earlier this year.
The next phase of development aims to create a new flagship residential community of over 400 new homes in Chester. The scheme will re-purpose existing buildings where possible and demolish any buildings at the end of their life to open up a forgotten quarter of the city centre making it easy to navigate around the area. In their place, will be modern, affordable and sustainable homes, with public spaces and supporting infrastructure.
The Chester Northgate Future Phases scheme is a key part of the Chester One City Plan, it is close to the city centre’s vibrant retail and leisure areas including Northgate Phase 1 (Chester Market, restaurants, cinema), Storyhouse, Chester Cathedral, Watergate Street and Town Hall Square.
VINCI UK Developments Ltd and ION Property Developments Ltd are well established development partners with a strong track record working collaboratively with local authorities.
Northgate Phase One
The recently opened £70 million first phase of the transformational Northgate development lies at the centre of one of the historic quarters of Chester in close proximity to Chester Cathedral.
A new leisure destination, it comprises a vibrant new 36,000 sq ft indoor market, restaurants and 10,000 sq ft of offices, alongside a new square, arcade and an 800-space multi-storey car park plus a new 6 screen Picturehouse cinema. The new award-winning ‘modern-traditional’ market hall is home to 30 traders covering produce, goods and food. A tremendous success to date, the market has welcomed over 6 million customers since opening in late 2022.
The scheme has also created a new public Exchange Square for the city, linking the new market hall, Storyhouse and the Town Hall.
City Centre/Northgate
Approximately 2 hectares, with wider links through to the main streets of Watergate Street and Northgate Street, and the Linenhall/Racecourse area of the city.
The Council is the land and property owner in this area
Residential, commercial, leisure
To deliver feasibility and phasing plan to bring forward Northgate Future phases including Goldsmith House; Hamilton House, The Forum, The old market and car park
In order to deliver agreed long-term objectives:
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Secure capital receipt for sale of Council owned assets
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Support economic growth and regeneration of the city centre which compliments existing centre and Phase 1 delivery (Storyhouse, Market, Cinema and new car park)
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Currently engaging with potential development partners to entre into a Pre-Development Agreement
Key sites and projects
Please click on a location for more details about investment opportunities
4. Northgate Phase Two
Chester One City Plan
Since 2012, Chester has taken a strategic long-term view of how the city could evolve and thrive. Our One City Plan sets out a vision for a modern, vibrant city where the public, private and community sectors are working together to make Chester a fairer, stronger, and greener city.
First published in 2012, the One City Plan set out a strategic vision and regeneration priorities for the future of Chester over a 15-year period. This resulted in over fifty projects with a combined investment of almost £1 billion.
These projects have all created jobs, increased tourism and given Chester a positive economic boost, see more here. We have achieved a lot but there’s much more to do.
