CHESTER railway station and the area around it is in line for transformation after council chiefs agreed to kick-start regeneration plans.

The Chester City Gateway project includes plans to boost capacity at the station, revive the public spaces around it and improve Hoole Bridge and the surrounding road network.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s cabinet gave the green light for the authority to work with Network Rail and London Continental Railways on the project.

Labour Cllr Richard Beacham, cabinet member for housing, regeneration and growth, said: “This is a really important project for me because it borders my ward and it has long been an ambition of people that live there, commuters that cross the Hoole Bridge, cyclists, cycling campaigners and sustainability groups.

“The project is much wider, much more ambitious than just looking at a bridge replacement. It is about envisaging the gateway into Chester down Hoole Road.

“It all sounds fantastic. We can’t run away with ourselves – this is very much the first step in a long journey, but it is a strong step forward.”

A business case for investment at the railway station will be submitted to the Department for Transport, considering extra capacity and potential new routes for Chester.

CWAC will work with Network Rail and London Continental Railways to produce a masterplan for renovating the station and improving the area surrounding it – with opportunities for new developments, better public realm and a link to the city centre.

The council is set to agree terms on a grant from the Cheshire and Warrington local enterprise partnership, which will go towards road improvements at Hoole Bridge.

Further improvements to the A56 corridor, plus pedestrian and cycle access, car parking and a new link to the bus station will also be explored.

Conservative Cllr Lynn Riley, shadow cabinet member for adult social care and public health, added: “Our group is encouraged and supportive of the project. I think it has long been an aspiration of councils preceding this one – and certainly since CWAC has been created.

“I’m very much hoping that this will be a catalyst for very significant new investment. We obviously have some relatively small investments already committed to some improvement around the station.

“But look at what is happening up and down the country – where three figures of millions are committed to making stations really vibrant and exciting community spaces as well as transport spaces.”

CWAC will pay £65,000 towards a study for works at Hoole Bridge and the A56 corridor, while £68,000 will go towards producing the regeneration proposals.