A HUGE department store which could transform part of a Chester shopping centre has been given the green light.
City planning chiefs have approved plans to create a vast 3,260sq m unit in the Paddock Row area of the city.
The proposals, put forward by Bridge Hall Holdings, owner of the Grosvenor centre, reveal the potential occupant as Beales – the biggest market town department store group in the UK.
The refurbishment would see Paddock Row completely replaced by a two-storey retail development which would stretch from St Michael’s Square to the escalator which leads on to Pepper Street.
A new roof light and escalators are also proposed, however existing redundant plant rooms would be demolished in order to facilitate the changes.
As part of the plans, about 30 car parking spaces will be lost, but the available retail space would be extended by 752sq m.
The planning application identified the row as ‘the weakest link of the Grosvenor centre’ due to the high turnover of units, such as The Body Shop, which moved to Foregate Street last summer when its lease came to an end.
Beales, which was founded in Bournemouth in 1881, has 13 stores, including Southport, Rochdale and Bolton.
The company would not comment on the proposals for a new department store at Paddock Row.
Meanwhile, the Habitat building which sits adjacent to the Grosvenor Shopping Centre, on Pepper Street, remains vacant.
Grosvenor Shopping Centre spokesperson said: “Habitat is still in administration so we currently have not taken over the unit from the official administrators.
“This is prime location and there will undoubtedly be strong competition from high street retail brands to take this space over.”