CHESTER'S answer to New York's Times Square and Piazza San Marco in Venice is to be the centrepiece of the £60m first face of Chester's Northgate development - with the strapline 'expect the unexpected'.

Today, the Standard joined Cestrians as they were invited to look at the new plans for the development.

The first phase has undergone a rethink - with the new public square that will be flanked by Storyhouse, The Town Hall, the new market and Hunter's Walk at its centre.

A 780 space car park over seven floors will also be one of the main features of the development - taking the place of the proposed relocation of the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The redirection was, in part, due to the loss of anchor retailer House of Fraser in the wake of its announcement in May 2018 that it was to close 31 of its stores.

But Cheshire West and Chester Council's market development manager Rob Monaghan is excited about bringing a new square to the centre of Chester on the site of the former bus station.

He envisions music, specialist markets, such as makers and vegan markets, community activities, and even big screens showing sport.

As a space where people can meet, rest, dwell and be entertained, Rob said: "The strapline for the square in to expect the unexpected. One day people might be watching England in the quarter-finals of the World Cup the next they could be taking part in a pilates sessions. People will not know what to expect the next time they visit.

"If you and some friends want to hold Tai Chi sessions in the morning, the square will be the place to do it."

During the summer, there will be several tasters of what people can expect - or not expect - to see in the square, with the former bus station site being used for a range of activities.

Then, towards the end of the year, the space will be closed off for 18 months to two years while the transformation is carried out. 

Cheshire West and Chester Council secured planning permission in 2016 for the relocation of the existing market currently operating in The Forum Shopping Centre, together with a new six-screen cinema to be operated by Picturehouse above the new building.

In addition plans were secured to make changes to the old library building which will become an arcade providing connections from Town Hall Square to the new public square.

The first phase of the Chester Northgate scheme will see a new market, six-screen cinema, public square and car park in the heart of the city centre.

The latest plans and images by the architects of the Chester Northgate development are available to be viewed by the public from today.

The images by AHR Architects of the £60m first phase of the development have gone on display today (Thursday, March 28) in Unit 7 at the Forum Shopping Centre.

Today also marks the start of formal planning consultation that will continue until April 18.

The plans being consulted on can be seen at: www.chesternorthgate.com/whats-next/

The opening times for the exhibition:

Thursday, March 28: 12 noon – 8pm

Friday, March 29: 12 noon – 7pm

Saturday, March 30: 10.30am – 3.30pm

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, members from the Chester Northgate technical team will be at the display to answer any questions about the plans.

Over the past few months the development concepts and visions have been shared with local groups and businesses.

The exhibition at the Forum has attracted more than 300 people who have also added their comments to help inform the new plans.

AHR lead architect Dominic Manfred said: "A strong theme that has come out of all the stakeholder engagement and public consultation held to date is for Northgate Phase 1 to incorporate natural elements such as green living walls to reflect the beautiful Cheshire countryside and natural timber to reflect the dominant materiality of the City.

"There has also been a strong preference to create a vibrant new destination for Chester which is extraordinary and unexpected, building upon the success of Storyhouse”.

Chester’s indoor Market has been transformed during the past year attracting over a million visitors eager to sample the growing range of international food, craft beers and visit the many new traders. Northgate aims to create a 21st century market for the city, building on the growing success of the existing market.

Adding to the phenomenal success of Storyhouse, Chester Northgate will bolster the city’s leisure and culture offer, as well as providing more jobs in the heart of Chester.

The scheduled start on site works will be late autumn, with a full start on site in early 2020.