A 'key gateway site' into Chester city centre which has the go-ahead for a 244-bed hotel will continue operating as a temporary car park for the foreseeable future.

Approval has been given for the Black Diamond Street site to be used as a car park for more than 100 vehicles over an extended three-year period.

Outline planning permission for the hotel development was granted by Cheshire West and Chester Council in July last year.

However, Cheshire-based developer Morbaine says it is unlikely that work will start on the site for at least the next two years.

The temporary car park has been in operation since 2016.

The Black Diamond Street site was previously earmarked for student accommodation with PJ Properties being given the go-ahead for a 376-bed complex following an appeal hearing back in December 2017.

However, those plans were eventually abandoned in 2019 before Morbaine put forward its proposal for a hotel with associated parking and landscaping.

The scheme, which has been described as "redeveloping an important key gateway site leading into Chester city centre", would create a total of 81 full-time jobs, according to the applicant.

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In a report recommending approval for the site to continue being used as a temporary car park, council case officer Edward Shepherd said: "The site has operated successfully for the last five years by providing additional parking close to the railway station.

"The site is secured by palisade fencing and has a dedicated access from Black Diamond Street. The use of the site as temporary car park has served to keep the site active whilst meeting a local need for parking.

"It is considered that the continued use of the site as a car park on temporary basis, whilst meeting a local need, will allow for further consideration for redevelopment."

The applicant states: "The site currently benefits from planning permission for a temporary car park which expires in March 2021. Whilst proposals are currently being considered to secure the site’s redevelopment, it is unlikely that development will start on site for at least the next two years.

"In the meantime therefore, temporary permission is sought for a further three years to allow the car park to continue to operate whilst the redevelopment plans for the site are developed/finalised."