Property experts report positive outlook for the borough’s economic growth
Cheshire West and Chester Property Review 2025 is being shared with property professionals, developers and business leaders at Chester Racecourse today (Thursday 15 May).
The Review prepared by local property experts BE Group looks at the growing economy across industrial, retail, leisure and the housing market. Despite high interest rates, 2024 was a strong year showing a cautious optimism in the market.
The Industrial property market in Cheshire West and Chester has seen a significant 116 percent increase from 2019. Overall, 120,136 sqm of transactions took place across 43 deals throughout 2024. This highlights the borough’s importance as an industrial and logistics hub in the North West region.
The Origin, Ellesmere Port area remained the leading location for industrial activity representing 73 percent of the total floorspace (87,654 sqm across 13 deals). The scale of development and occupier demand in the area reflects its strategic location, strong connectivity, and availability of large-scale employment land, including sites within the Cheshire Science Corridor Enterprise Zone.
There were 65 office transactions recorded during 2024, with 13,419 sqm of transacted floorspace. While national economic conditions led to softer demand in some regions, the west Cheshire office market demonstrated resilience, particularly in the Chester submarket.
In the past year a total of 1,366 new homes were completed across the borough with 377 (27 percent) delivered as affordable housing.
New sites are being prepared for housing in Ellesmere Port town centre for low carbon family housing, and looking ahead exciting transformation at Northwich Weaver Square and the second phase of Chester Northgate.
There was also positive news on the employment rate across the borough which climbed to 76.5 percent, a 3.2 percent increase since 2020, exceeding the North West average of 73.8 percent and slightly higher than the national figure (76 percent). Unemployment fell to just 2.7 percent, outperforming both the regional and national averages and signalling a robust local labour market.
A new website promoting investment in the city is being launched at the event featuring case studies of businesses that have invested in the city: www.investchester.uk
Ahead of the launch of the review at Chester Racecourse, Councillor Nathan Pardoe, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation said:
The report demonstrates the growth and confidence in the Cheshire West economy, with multimillion pound industrial investment projects and a growing house building market. As a Council we continue to support this growth, investing in skills and employment provision across the borough to support individuals wherever they are on their employment journey. We recognise the importance of digital connectivity, and work with network providers to improve fixed line and mobile digital infrastructure in our towns, cities and rural communities. The Council can also be proud of its record on regeneration projects, in communities across the patch. We have delivered an internationally recognised £70m scheme in the first phase of the Chester Northgate development, with more to follow with Northgate 2. We remain committed to our markets in Ellesmere Port, Winsford, Northwich and Chester at a time when other councils are closing or withdrawing from them. We’re building new residential communities in Northwich and Chester, recognising the importance of residential development to thriving town centres. We’re modernising leisure facilities in Chester with plans to do the same in Frodsham, we are investing in community spaces in Lache and developing plans to regenerate community assets in Neston. In projects big or small, we recognise the importance of quality and community in placemaking - offering more than retail to bring people back into towns and the city centre. Despite the challenging economic conditions, there are opportunities to invest in Cheshire West and make it an even better place to live, work and visit.
Cheshire West and Chester Council will be joining partners in Leeds later this month for The UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF). The event takes place over three days 20 to 22 May at the Royal Armouries Leeds and Leeds Dock. Over 16,000 people will visit the event attracting over 1,750 investors hearing from 1,250 speakers and over 150 exhibitors.
The wider optimism in the borough was also recognised by the Times which recently judged Chester as one of the best places to invest in property in 2025.
Copies of the full Property Review are available to download