Five-time Olympic gold medal winning rower Sir Steve Redgrave and developer Bell Developments are readying for battle if Chester council stands by a recommendation to refuse a £100m student housing scheme in the city.
Bell Developments wants to build a 2,300-bed student scheme, which will feature the Redgrave sports science and medical research institute, on green belt land between Blacon and Mollington.
But planners claim there is not enough justification for the project. Dave Bell, director at Bell Developments, said: “Sir Steve has been heavily involved in this and sees it as the next chapter in his life. We have spent more than £1m and two years on this and the attitude of the planning officer and the local NIMBYs has been very disappointing… We think we have fulfilled the requirements but the planning officer doesn’t. It is very frustrating and Sir Steve will be very vocal in any attempt to turn the decision around.”
Jones Lang LaSalle is advising.
simon.binns@estatesgazette.com
