Appendix L Chester Characterisation and Vacancy Assessment continued

Lower Bridge Street and White Friars

At the southern area of Chester’s retail core is Lower Bridge Street to St Olave Street and White Friars. These two areas are within the Bridgegate and The Castle Chester Characterisation areas respectively and are designated Secondary Shopping Frontages in the Council’s adopted proposals map.

White Friars and Falcon Inn

White Friars and the Falcon Inn are located at the top of Grosvenor Street. Grosvenor Street was designed to provide a grand entrance to the city from the Easton Hall estate to the west and its diagonal orientation has a notable impact on the grid form of this part of Chester. The Falcon Inn is a 2-storey Grade 1 Listed, dating to circa 1180, currently operating as a public house. At White Friars there is a 3-storey commercial building in mock Tudor style and active ground floor frontage. Much of the ground floor units are vacant. The wider area is characterised by main town centre uses, with residential dwellings also evident to the rear of White Friars.

Grosvenor Street is a main road in the local highway network. The Grosvenor Street / Pepper Street junction, described as a Strong Node in the Chester Characterisation Study, is adjacent to White Friars, which reflects how vehicular movement in this area of Chester is a prominent feature. The Grade II Listed Church of St Michael at the Grosvenor Street / Pepper Street junction is a notable landmark travelling along Grosvenor Street from the west.

Lower Bridge Street

Lower Bridge Street continues from Bridge Street towards the River Dee to the south. The Street has a secondary retail function with a broad range of main town centre uses prevalent with Estate Agents having a notable presence. Buildings are predominately 3-storeys high with active ground floor frontage.

Lower Bridge Street is a well-occupied, successful location within the retail core, with only one vacant unit. Due to the width of the street, mix of uses, and vehicle movements, Lower Bridge Street has the character of a local centre.

Lower Bridge Street is a key road in the local highway network, directing vehicle movements from the south of Chester across the River Dee towards the heart of the city centre. Due to ground levels and orientation of the street, St Peter’s Church Tower and St Michael’s Church are clearly visible the length of the street and draws the visitor towards the heart of the city centre.

Pedestrian footfall was notably lower than other areas of the city centre which may be a reflection of how retail provision is not a prominent feature of this area.

Land Use

The primary operations evident at Lower Bridge Street and White Friars are those associated with Estate Agencies, with 9 such establishments evident which equates to 31% of all provision. Hair and Beauty provision is also a prominent use, making up 21% of all provision. Retail makes up 17% of all provision with 5 units offering retail services.

Appendix L

Chester Characterisation and Vacancy Assessment continued

Lower Bridge Street and White Friars embody a secondary retail function with a range of main town centres prevalent. It is a main conduit to the city centre from the south and, although dominated by vehicle movements, is a successful street with attractive heritage assets. The SWOT analysis below provides further detail on how the area performs in comparison to the wider city centre area and what may affect its continued success.

Strengths

Key route from the south of Chester to the city centre

Attractive heritage assets

Clear vistas

Agglomeration of Estate Agencies provide a degree of characterisation

Successfully occupied Street with only two vacant units

Opportunities

Strengthen the link with routes around the River Dee

Activity/events to the south of the city would draw footfall through the area

Weaknesses

Vehicle movements are a key feature of area

Not pedestrianised

Lower footfall that other parts of the city centre

Public realm insufficient to accommodate outdoor seating

Threats

Should the existing priority given to vehicle movements prevail the street may be affected by the fortunes of neighbouring streets with more desirable town centre conditions such as public realm