Appendix L Chester Characterisation and Vacancy Assessment continued

St Werburgh Street and Godstall Lane

St Werburgh Street links Northgate Street to Eastgate Street. The path of the street skirts the south-west boundary of Chester Cathedral. Despite being adjacent to the Cathedral, St Werburgh Street is one of the quieter streets in the City Centre, which may be attributable to how priority is given to vehicular traffic, and the prevalence of vacant units.

At the part 2, part 3-storey St Werburgh Row at the eastern section of St Werburgh Street, there are four vacant units. These units are Grade II Listed and date to 1935. The pedestrian footpath is covered owing to the overhang of the upper floors. The combination of the covered footpath and vacant units create a dark, uninviting environment.

A range of uses with active ground floor frontage are evident at the central section of St Werburgh Street including retail provision, a hairdressers, a café, and an ice cream parlour. Units 19 to 27 are covered by the overhang of upper floors. Between 27 and 29 St Werburgh Street is Godstall Lane which is characterised by restaurant and drinking establishments. Godstall Lane is an interesting narrow passage ‘hidden away’ between the rear of buildings at Northgate Street and the southern section of St Werburgh Street.

The southern end of St Werburgh Street feels more animated with greater footfall and with the pedestrian footpath no longer covered. There is a convenient access point to the Cathedral grounds which works to direct footfall between the southern section of St Werburgh Street and Eastgate Street, rather than in a north-easterly direction towards St Werburgh Row. This section of St Werburgh Street dates to the late 19th Century and is designed in the attractive and familiar black and white style seen throughout Chester.

St Werburgh Street is one of the few places in the City Centre which benefits from its proximity to trees and soft landscaping within the Cathedral Grounds.

St Werburgh Street and Godstall Lane are designated Secondary Shopping Frontages on the Council’s adopted proposals map.

As a whole St Werburgh Street has a strong retail offer (12 units / 45% of provision), though this is focused towards the southern section of the street. This retail offer is complimented by the food and beverage offering at Godstall Lane. The Botanist restaurant has an entrance at St Werburgh Street and a frontage at Goodstall Lane. Vacant units comprise 26% of the total provision at St Werburgh Street and Godstall Lane.

Appendix L Chester Characterisation and Vacancy Assessment

continued

St Werburgh Street is strategically located off of Northgate Street adjacent to the Town Hall Square, adjacent to Chester Cathedral, and benefits from a junction with Eastgate Street, Chester’s primary retail street. Despite this advantageous location, St Werburgh Street is quiet and lacks footfall and is subject to vacant units at St Werburgh Row. The character of the street is not befitting of its location, historical importance, or potential. The SWOT analysis below explores the dynamics at St Werburgh Street in more detail.

Strengths

Advantageous location

Historical interest / importance

Aesthetically pleasing, particularly at the southern section

Godstall Lane is an interesting quirk

Strong retail offer at southern section

Proximity to green space / soft landscaping

Opportunities

Located on a historical trail

Proximity to key tourist destinations

Better signposting / public realm would draw footfall to the street

Views of the Cathedral

Proximity to a rare area of greenery in Chester

Weaknesses

Vacant units at St Werburgh Row

Covered pedestrian pavements and northeast orientation creates a dark environment

Vehicle movements given priority

Lacking defined character / doesn’t feel like a destination

Threats

Perception as not as important as other streets

Without a particular draw it may continue to be overshadowed by other streets

Vacant units are St Werburgh Row costly to bring back into use

Not the most accessible area of the City Centre from a public transport / parking perspective