Chester Cathedral has been given the go-ahead to turn a vacant former bank building into offices. Back in 2023, the cathedral announced plans to increase its presence in the city centre by moving back into the Barclays Bank building which sits on the corner of St Werburgh Street and also fronts onto Northgate Street.
It was described as “a major part of the cathedral’s architectural heritage” but had been occupied by Barclays for decades prior to the banking giant moving into the former McDonald’s unit at the old Forum on Northgate Street and another site on Abbey Square. A deal was struck for the cathedral to take the building back into its estate as part of its ambitious Project Discovery – which aims to “reconnect the cathedral with the city centre and its communities”.
A listed building consent application “for a scheme of internal and external works” was submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council in September last year. The works – including the removal of modern partitions, ceilings and kitchen units, new toilet cubicles, repairs to plaster, stone, timber and rainwater goods, and the partial replacement of modern internal stairs – were rubber-stamped just before Christmas.
The cathedral’s application stated: “The project is conceived to provide minor alterations that are necessary for re-use of the site for office accommodation for the Cathedral office. The site consists of two buildings that are listed separately but are co-joined. Both have been used together as office space by Barclays Bank since the 1960s and are currently vacant.
“The proposals would return two substantial city centre heritage assets back to full and active occupation. It would provide much needed maintenance, upgrading of the offices to meet modern standards including access, and would return the heritage assets to optimum viable use, securing their conservation in the long term.”
In a report recommending approval, council officer Charlie Cullen states: “The Conservation Officer does not object to the application. It is considered that the proposals have demonstrated special regard to the desirability of preserving the Grade II listed building, its setting, and features of special architectural and historic interest in which it possesses.
“As such, it is considered that there would be no harm to the significance of the heritage asset. The proposal is therefore considered to accord with the policy provisions as set out above in this regard.”
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