1, 000 jobs if pounds 50m plan for police HQ gets go-ahead.Byline: TONY MCDONOUGH McDonough is the name of several places in the United States:
UP TO 1, 000 jobs could be created if a pounds 50m commercial and residential development is given the go-ahead in Chester. Developer Liberty Properties last night unveiled plans for the 250, 000 sq ft leisure, office and residential complex on the site of the former Cheshire Police headquarters. The company is submitting a detailed planning application to demolish de·mol·ish tr.v. de·mol·ished, de·mol·ish·ing, de·mol·ish·es 1. To tear down completely; raze. 2. To do away with completely; put an end to. 3. the former police HQ. Liberty claims the project, known as HQ, could create up to 1, 000 jobs and will be ``one of the most prestigious mixed-use developments to be created outside London in recent years''. Cheshire Police Authority selected Liberty as preferred purchaser for the prime city centre site in April following a lengthy tender process involving numerous companies. Last night's announcement ends months of speculation surrounding sur·round tr.v. sur·round·ed, sur·round·ing, sur·rounds 1. To extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle. 2. To enclose or confine on all sides so as to bar escape or outside communication. n. the 10-storey concrete police building, sometimes known as Castle Esplanade. Chester-based architect Phil McCormick has created plans for 100, 000 sq ft of grade A office space, a luxury hotel complete with restaurants, and a range of two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses. At the heart of the development will be a large central piazza piazza Open square or marketplace, surrounded by buildings, in an Italian town or city. It was equivalent to the plaza of Spanish-speaking countries. The term became more widely used in the 16th–18th century, denoting any large open space with buildings around it. . Liberty's development director, Paul Norman Paul Norman (October, 1951 - July 2, 2004) was Chief Scientist for Detection and Protection[1] at the Ministry of Defence’s laboratory at Porton Down, Wiltshire and member of the Royal Society. , said: ``There was a strict planning brief set out by the city council which stated that the site must encourage redevelopment into a multi-purpose site that would create significant employment. ``We believe our proposal meets these criteria perfectly -- Liberty is committed to this scheme, which will generate significant economic benefits for Chester. ``What we're planning is essentially a vibrant new gateway to the city. By combining living and working with a contemporary leisure and cultural space, HQ will make a lifestyle statement of its own. '' Liberty has a current development programme valued in excess of pounds 100m, and has already developed more 150, 000sq ft of commercial accommodation and 50, 000sq ft of retail floor space in Chester. Subject to planning approval, construction on HQ is likely to commence in summer 2005, with completion due in autumn 2006. CAPTION(S): An artist's impression of the HQ development planned for the police headquarters site |
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