Defence Online

A public park with its own boating lake, 280 homes and a nursery school could soon be built in Chester under newly submitted plans that draw inspiration from a Royal Park in London, historic Dutch canal housing and a spectacular 16th century French chateau.Ospitium 4, a part of Astu Hotels, Residential and Offices Group, has lodged a full planning application with Cheshire West & Chester Council to demolish 272, 274, 276 and 278 Sealand Road and clear land to the north bounded by Clifton Drive and Blacon Escarpment. The site lies to the west of central Chester outside the city walls.In its place, Ospitium 4 and newly incorporated company Chester Partners are looking to create a 12.4-acre public park known as Ogilvie Park, 280 homes, communal and private gardens, and a subsidised nursery school (pictured) for 40 three and four year olds. Planning documents accompanying the application claim that Ogilvie Park would be the first new public park created in Chester since Grosvenor Park in 1867 and would be of a similar size.The proposed park would feature a large boating lake and all visitors would be able to take out a rowing boat in the summer season. There would also be manicured lawns, tree-lined avenues, a rose garden, fountains, grassy areas for picnics and playing sports, and a large children’s playground.A supporting design and access statement said that the scheme has been inspired by several buildings around parks and water including the Chateau de Chantilly in northern France, Regent’s Park by celebrated Regency architect John Nash in London, and Dutch canal housing in the 16th and 17th centuries.