Baseline data review

Data Sources Reviewed

A wide-range of data resources have been consulted to establish the ‘baseline position’ of Chester’s Retail Core (the Study area). Planning and evidence base documents produced by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) have been consulted, documents which seek to guide and shape development in the City Centre. These Council produced documents have been enriched by market analysis reports and socio-demographic information. Together the wide-range of data sources consulted illuminate the role, function, and capacity of the City Centre, and enable one to anticipate the challenges and opportunities which the City Centre will be required to navigate in the future.

Primary Data Gathered

An extensive consultation exercise has been undertaken with key stakeholders to gain a unique local insight into Chester and the City Centre. Anecdotal evidence into the history and fortunes of Chester from people who know the area best has been candidly revealing in how local people understand their City and the challenges it faces and has enabled the authors to contextualise their understanding of the City. Complementing the author’s experience of the property industry and built environment with local knowledge has enabled strategies to be formulated which get to the heart of what needs to be done to maximise Chester’s strength and address its weaknesses.

Site Visits

A number of site visits in the form of walk-overs have been undertaken which has enabled the consultant team to gain an up-to-date understanding of the vacancy situation in the Retail Core and to ensure they have an in-depth understanding of the Study area.