Revised plans for 400+ homes on the old Forum site go on show from 20 October, with a free film night at the Picturehouse. Dates, times and how to book.
The revised masterplan for the next phase of Chester Northgate goes on public show next month. The scheme would put more than 400 homes on the land around the former Forum shopping centre and council offices.
It starts with a free event at Chester Picturehouse on Tuesday 20 October, 4pm to 5pm. The council announced it on 22 September. The event is called Back to the Future. It launches the second stage of public engagement on the plans, and places are limited.
What is on, and when
| What | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Back to the Future event: films and a panel | Chester Picturehouse | Tue 20 Oct, 4pm to 5pm |
| Masterplan exhibition | Former Barclays Bank, 30 St Werburgh Street | Tue 20 Oct, 5pm to 7pm |
| Masterplan exhibition | Former Barclays Bank, 30 St Werburgh Street | Wed 21 Oct, 12pm to 5pm |
| Masterplan exhibition | Former Barclays Bank, 30 St Werburgh Street | Thu 22 Oct, 12pm to 5pm |
The exhibition venue is the old bank building next to Chester Cathedral.
At the Picturehouse event there will be:
- the first showing of specially commissioned films about the One City Plan since 2012 and the Northgate Phase 2 masterplan
- a question panel with the council, the developer ION Developments, city centre businesses, young people and members of the One City Plan working groups
The event is free, but the council advises booking early. Tickets are on the One City Plan’s booking page.
What is being planned
The council’s release says the scheme aims to deliver a residential community of more than 400 sustainable homes, including affordable housing. It gives no split between market and affordable homes.
The masterplan, as the council describes it, would:
- restore the city’s historic street pattern across the site
- unwrap Chester Town Hall, so it is no longer attached to the old Forum and council offices
- add a possible new cultural building opening onto Town Hall Square, for gallery, performance, community and exhibition space
The cultural building is described as an “initial proposal”. It is not yet a firm part of the scheme.
The council’s July 2024 release set out what the Phase 2 area covers. It takes in the former Forum shopping centre and offices, Hamilton House, Merchant House, Goldsmith House and the former Gateway Theatre. The council put the site at almost the size of three football pitches.
How we got here
- July 2024: the council’s cabinet was asked to approve the search for a developer partner, the council said.
- July 2025: cabinet selected VINCI UK Developments and ION Property Developments as its preferred partner.
- 27 November 2025: the council signed a Pre-Development Agreement with VINCI. That lets VINCI and ION work up the masterplan, run feasibility studies and surveys, and build a business plan to unlock outside funding.
- May 2026: the first round of public engagement ran.
- 20 to 22 October 2026: the revised masterplan goes on show.
Steve Parry, managing director of ION Developments, said the response in May was “overwhelmingly positive with 86 per cent supporting our plans for new homes in the city centre”. That figure is the developer’s own. The council has not published the number of people who responded, so it is not possible to say how many the 86 per cent represents.
Mr Parry said the feedback had “helped inform our revisions to the masterplan”. The exhibition is where people can see what changed.
What it means for you
This is engagement on a masterplan, not a planning application, so there is nothing yet to object to or support formally. It is the stage where the plans can still change most easily.
- If you live or work in the city centre, the exhibition is the chance to see how the new streets and homes would sit around Hamilton Place and Town Hall Square.
- If you missed the May consultation, this is the second stage, and the developer says the first one shaped the revisions.
- If you cannot make the evening event, the exhibition runs on two weekday afternoons as well.
Councillor Richard Beacham, the council leader’s champion for the One City Plan, said residents “need to know that there is a plan for the place we love”.
When a planning application does arrive, we will report it. Our Chester planning news page tracks the district’s biggest schemes.
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