Engagement review with the local community

What strengths does Chester have?

Environment

Areas mentioned in discussions as a frustrations

New business models required 18%

More residential needed in city 12%

Engagement can be difficult 16%

Words dont see action 24% to live

New blood is required in leadership 10% Old guard approach 18%

What are the driving factors to advise CWAC for the future of Chester and work?

Community should write One City Plan 15%

New approach for city is required 12%

Community voice needs to be acted on 15%

Future direction needs to be created 24%

Chester needs a strong vision for growth

18%

One City plan to be clearer

18%

In terms of feedback, It became apparent that many participants were demonstrating a level of fatigue with ongoing engagement, best summed up as “There have been many talks, now there needs to be some action” - with several references made to the One City Plan as something which needed to be “released and acted upon” and that potentially the baton should be handed across to the private sector to lead the charge of change.

In relation to business growth, there was a strong appetite to have a workspace within the borough, and many felt that the most appropriate place would be within the city itself, as this area needed the injection of something to draw in footfall.

There was a feeling that the outlying areas would not attract so readily if a workspace and associated services were situated outside the city.

This is primarily driven by its association with business and the high street, alongside the need to create interest, access to talent and infrastructure. Companies tend to cluster around economic activity within a city.

The need for a firm offer in the heart of the city, which is business growth related, would create an opportunity to place make. That potential needs to be crafted with the correct narrative and supported through messaging about the city.

A number viewed intervention and creation of a workplace as a space where there was an intersection of complementary businesses from creative to tech and digital whilst working alongside the community.

Thought leadership and a space to gather community where events could take place would help to animate the locality. Storyhouse was cited multiple times as an exemplar of how a well-designed space can attract and allow people to coalesce.

The accelerator element was secondary for many when providing quality workspace, which was the primary. The overriding belief was that if more businesses were attracted and supported for growth, it would help define the city's future and bring vibrancy to the city centre.

Accelerator and incubation opportunities coupled with workspace were perceived to benefit longer-term business growth by those who understood how these operate.

In terms of facilities, one clear message came through, whatever and however this works, it needs to be the best it can be, and that means creating a facility which is of quality and competes with or exceeds anything available in Manchester or Liverpool and Warrington.

(Statements made are included in the appendices section)

Office enquiries for Chester - Legat Owen

Legat Owen supplied inbound office enquiries data for Jan - March 2022. Of those 46 inquiries, 32 were looking for Chester City; the more extensive enquiries over 3000 sq ft were for areas outside the city centre.