Cheshire West and Cheshire Council are looking for a construction partner in order to carry out planned work as part of the £300 million Chester Northgate scheme. The council has paced an advertisement into the Official Journal of the European Union which looks for a contractor to work alongside the council in order to develop a design, test the buildability of the design and manage out any risk associated with the construction project.

In preparation for the scheme, Cheshire West and Chester Council have made a number of compulsory purchase orders on a selection of properties in order to secure the land for the development. The historic city will be carrying out one of the largest city centre development schemes in the country.

The advertisement has been placed for the contractor, who will be required to demonstrate their experience and ability of working on large city centre developments. It is important, with the strong heritage seen throughout Chester City centre that the contractor chosen for the work is experienced in dealing with a historical environment and archeology. Contractors will have until the end of September to apply for the work, with construction planned by the end of 2018.

It is thought that the advertisement that has been placed by the local council will generate a lot of interest due to the size and unique nature of the development. The work will see the library in the city centre turned into the entrance of the new retail complex and a restaurant hub, with the nearby Forum shopping centre also being demolished and used as part of the new construction work.

The contractor for the work is expected to be announced at the start of next year and, when completed, the retail development will offer a new selection of retail and hospitality choices for locals and visitors to the vibrant and historical city.