The Countess of Chester Hospital The Countess of Chester Health Park Liverpool Road Upton Chester CH2 1UL Data via plota.co.uk

26/02179/FUL - Full Application Awaiting decision

Proposal

Construction of a new Energy Generation Compound (EGC), installation of a new low temperature hot water (LTHW) distribution network, decentralised heat pump installations and associated infrastructure. The Trust has engaged Vital Energi to carry out a comprehensive installation of new heat pump equipment which will reduce the Trust?s carbon emissions. The proposed project will replace this arrangement with a modern, efficient and future-ready low temperature hot water network designed to significantly improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and provide resilience for future decarbonisation opportunities. In summary, the proposed works comprise below which will be installed, on a permanent basis, built within boundary of the Hospital. 1. New Energy Generation Compound Construction of a new Energy Generation Compound housing: ? 2 No. 5MW high efficiency gas-fired LTHW boilers ? 1 No. 11m high chimney and associated flue arrangements ? Pressurisation systems ? Expansion plant ? Water treatment equipment ? Associated mechanical services ? Building management systems ? Electrical infrastructure 2. Distribution Infrastructure Construction of: ? New primary LTHW distribution network ? Interconnecting pipework systems 3. Heat Generation and Plant Infrastructure (5 No. decentralised Air Source Heat Pump systems) ? Creche ? Longhouse ? Martindale House ? Moston Lodge ? EDTC & Postgraduate 4. Substation Construction of a new Substation housing: ? Transformer ? LV Switchboard Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
14 Jul 2026
✓
Validated
28 Aug 2026
Decision
Target date was 23 Oct 2026

Under consideration

No decision has been issued yet. Plota predicted a decision soon after comments close on 15 Oct 2026; it is now day 63.

The consultation period closed on 15 Oct 2026.

Site constraints 3

Green belt: Merseyside and Greater Manchester
Inappropriate development needs very special circumstances.
Green belt policy allows a short list of exceptions, such as limited extensions and replacement buildings. Anything else needs very special circumstances that clearly outweigh the harm. Some green belt land can count as grey belt, where it does not strongly serve the green belt's purposes. The council decides this in its green belt assessment or on each application, so we do not mark it here.
Read the government guidance ↗
Also on the record
Inside the Chester built-up area; Natural England's Provisional ALC map (1:250,000, 1970s) had this area as grade 3, but it predates the buildings here and the current map does not class it as farmland.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 6 October 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

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Important details

Council
Chester
Application type
Full Application
Postcode
CH2 1UL
Received
14 Jul 2026
Validated
28 Aug 2026
Ward
Upton
Parish
Bache
Applicant
Show
Agent
Project Co-ordinator Chun Kit Li

Decision outlook

Day 63, past the statutory target. 93% of utility and infrastructure works in Chester are decided within thirteen weeks, which runs to 27 Nov 2026; extensions of time are common, and the council need not decide on the day. Last seen undecided on 28 Oct 2026.

Day 637 days past the 56-day target
90%decided within 8 weeks
99%approved
89decided in the last year

Plota live figures for utility and infrastructure works decided by Chester in the last twelve months, from validation. Chester decision record →

Public comments

No public comments yet.

Last counted 28 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15075135
Planning Portal ref
PP-15075135
Comments by
15 Oct 2026
Env. assessment
No