Gorsestack Masterplan, Chester City Centre

Barlows Plc

The Gorsestacks area is a key gateway to Chester city centre from the North East. Although the area is outside the City Walls, much of it is inside the Inner Ring Road and therefore it is critical to the development and setting of the historic city centre. The area also overlooks the canal and therefore is an integral part of the greater canal area regeneration corridor which includes the Broughton Canal Corridor together with Tower Wharf and the Old Port regeneration areas. The area was dominated by City Council owned land and presented a great opportunity to mend the urban fabric and regenerate this key area of the City, extending and growing the city centre out towards the ring road.

The area is rich in history and archaeology. The brief sought to use this history as a key to enhancing the understandability of the area and its regeneration. The intention is to create a colourful, mixed use, vibrant and distinctive new quarter to the City Centre - creating the very best in urban life and design quality.