Two of Chester’s signature commercial buildings, Tower House and Charterhall House, also known as the ‘Lloyds Buildings’, are set to be redeveloped into luxury apartments by Blueoak Estates, pending successful planning approval.
The ambitious scheme will see the 1970’s structures, both of which have remained empty for several years, transformed into 176 highly desirable apartments in the Chester City Gateway Quarter. The framework and integrity of both buildings will be retained in full rather than demolish and rebuild, in a move that epitomises the phrase ‘carbon capture’.
Iain MacLean, Managing Director of Blueoak Estates commented: “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.”
Chester is currently enjoying a far-reaching city centre renaissance that’s seeing an influx of people choosing the conurbation as its home, and enjoying the many cultural, leisure and sporting highlights on the doorstep.
Located on the idyllic banks of the Shropshire Union Canal, the scheme sits across a seven-storey and four-storey building. A highly sustainable development, all properties will achieve an EPC B rating, incorporating MEV air extract and KURS systems, with the addition of solar panels across the roof. Communal facilities include integrated bike storage with chargers, resident’s rooftop garden, cinema room, gym, and breakout workspace. Careful planning and attention to detail has been applied throughout the scheme, conforming to National Development Space standards.
Iain MacLean, Managing Director of Blueoak Estates commented: “We’re incredibly proud of the impact we’re making on the Chester landscape. 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. The location is one of the best in Chester, and the apartments will be developed as a range of sizes to suit a broad and diverse audience. As ever, the fit out and finish will be of exceptional standard, with lift access and ample private parking.”
The site sits just 250 metres away from Chester’s main train station, amongst an exciting developing urban neighbourhood.
