A new @Go_CheshireWest report includes lots of interesting news about Chester's Northgate Project.

1: Income from it is forecast to be £1m less than was thought last year. Due to the pandemic's effect on letting market stalls and income from restaurants and parking (THREAD)

2. The new drain from the site (which is the reason for all the roadworks and the clockwise one-way system on the inner ring road) is £1.8m over budget. To partly pay for that @Go_CheshireWest will no longer fund new parking around Chester railway station...

3. For future phases - CWaC's buying less land than first thought. Still planning to build on the site of the Forum, Merchants House, Goldsmith House, Hamilton House (already owns 90% of this), but not the rear of Watergate St (the bits outside the coloured lines below)...

4. As for what's going to go in Phase 2 - "a key priority for the Council will be to include residential accommodation". In terms of how it'll be paid for - "securing external grant funding will be crucial for the progression of future phases".

5. So what happens next? Building's going ahead on phase 1, but for phase 2 - some new consultants will be appointed, a big consultation will happen, anyone with land who'll be forced to sell will be told and CWaC will try to find some money. Full report: …http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/s72261/Chester%20Northgate%20Development%20Update%20Cabinet%20Report.pdf