Go-ahead for new plans to bulldoze Ellesmere Port council offices with underground bunker

Fresh plans to demolish the former Ellesmere Port council offices – which include an underground bunker – have been given the green light. Previously, a planning application submitted by Cheshire West and Chester Council to knock down the now empty Civic Way building was approved back in 2020.

However, as part of the planning consent the work needed to be started within a three-year period which expired back in May last year. As a result, the local authority lodged new plans to bulldoze the dated building and remove the underground bunker, as well as carrying out remediation works and engineering operations to level the town centre site.

Those plans have now been rubber-stamped. In a report recommending approval, council case officer Emily Yates said: “In terms of the loss of the office space, this has in effect been replaced by the new Council offices, The Portal, further along Wellington Road which is now open and functioning.

READ: Fresh plans to knock down Ellesmere Port council offices with underground bunker The Civic Way building has been empty since May 2022

READ: When the state-of-the-art public services hub will open its doors in Ellesmere Port The facility, known as The Portal, will house hundreds of Cheshire West and Chester Council staff and provide numerous services to residents

“With regard to the car parking, the proposal does not look to displace any of the current provision. In terms of trees, a landscaping plan has been submitted which demonstrates all trees will be retained where possible. This is similar to the approach put forward under the previous application and is considered acceptable.

“A (knee high) post and rail fence is proposed around the periphery of the site with the area of the building being levelled and grass seeded. This restoration of the site is considered acceptable given its prominence.

How the land will be landscaped after demolition

“In summary, the demolition of the building is considered acceptable and, noting the replacement office space provided at The Portal, will not limit the quantity of employment land.” The application was subsequently approved subject to conditions.

The building has lain empty since May 2022 when council staff moved to the authority’s new state-of-the-art public services hub.

The delay in demolition work starting is understood to have been down to mobile phone masts needing to be relocated from the roof of the offices. The council has previously stated that the site is expected to be used to provide housing for families and young professionals.

The underground bunker was constructed more than 30 years ago. Planning documents accessible on the council website – dating back to January 1990 – refer to proposals for a ‘basement emergency centre’.

This formed part of the modern extension to the offices. The plans were rubber stamped that month and refer to the bunker having numerous facilities such as three-tier bunk beds, a kitchen and restroom, toilets and showers, and an area for removing contaminated clothing.

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