THE £72 million Northgate Development will soon open its long-awaited phase one site, featuring the new Chester Market, a six-screen Picturehouse cinema, a multi-storey car park, new bars and restaurants and office spaces.

But what next for the city centre? What will eventually become of the old Chester Market and the adjoining Market Car Park, both of which will close when the new sites open?

Cheshire West and Chester Council commercial director Graham Pink explained that 'phase two' of the Northgate Development would cover this site, and plans for it have changed over the years.

While it was once envisaged that the area could become a shopping centre, it is now felt more likely the area will ultimately become a residential offering.

But don't expect the bulldozers and cranes to come too soon.

Mr Pink said: "We are revisiting phase two so it's not going to be a shopping centre. There might be a convenience store but we are not actively promoting a shopping centre.

"If it's not shopping or leisure, it's more likely to be city centre living.

"Phase two is not going to be delivered in the same way as phase one, in that it's not going to be a direct council delivery. We will be engaging with the private sector. What form that development is, is yet to be decided.

"We will not get the cranes going anytime soon, as we want to make sure phase one is a success.

"We want to create conditions to make the city centre a more attractive place to live. What we have tried to achieve are the correct conditions and confidence for future investment."

Such future housing would include affordable units and family homes, aiming to keep graduates and allow them to work and live in the city, rather than commute in "from five to 10 miles away".

Cllr Richard Beacham, the council's Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth, Economy and Regeneration, added: "This is a huge, huge opportunity for people to live in the city centre.

"We are in a position to direct what kind of neighbourhood we should have. We want people to feel it is a neighbourhood and not just a block of flats, and we've got to make sure it's a safe community and get families living in the city centre."

The Crowne Plaza Hotel will continue to run in its current location. A previous version of the Northgate Development had it being relocated to the Exchange Square site, but those plans were dropped, with the multi-storey car park taking its place on the blueprints.