New Plans and Survey for Hydro Hub in Chester

Plans are being developed to return the Hydro Hub, a long-neglected part our heritage, back to have a useful place in the future of Chester.

Many people wonder about the apparently derelict sandstone building on the corner of Castle Drive and the Old Dee Bridge between Chester and Handbridge.

Plans are being developed to return this long-neglected part our heritage back to have a useful place in the future of Chester. Cheshire Heritage and Sustainability Enterprises, or “CHASE” for short is the not-for-profit organisation developing the plans and your views are now being sought in a survey and at meetings in July.

In 1913, this building was a newly constructed state of the art hydroelectric station, the first of its kind in England to provide electricity from both tidal and headwater.

At one point, the station provided 40% of Chester’s electricity requirement until it ceased operation in 1951. The turbines were removed and pumps installed in 1952 to become a water pumping station until 2015. Since then, the building has stood idle and is deteriorating.

CHASE’s ‘Hydro Hub’ Project aims to give the site a new lease of life with several functions.

Firstly, as an education centre on career paths for the green economy – good jobs for local people. The Chester area has the potential to lead the UK on decarbonising the economy.

Secondly, as a potential source of sustainable power and heat for the local area. The biggest energy use in the country is heating homes and businesses, and taking heat from the river is a new technology that could make better use of the building.

Thirdly, as a unique new visitor centre for the city featuring a rooftop café/restaurant, showcasing the last thousand years of sustainable use on the River Dee, and its potential ahead.

Chair of CHASE CIC, Chester based Dr Niall Macfadyen said:

“We need support to turn the Hydro Building from its unused and rather sorry state to a thriving educational and visitor attraction which generates its own energy and heat.”

“We would really appreciate your and any of your friends and colleagues’ opinions on the Hydro Hub, so a short survey has been put together by Marketing PRojects to better understand your views. We need as many views as possible and we’d love to hear from you.”

The link to the short two minute survey is available at: 

https://hydro-hub.uk.

The survey closes at the end of July.

https://www.survio.com/survey/d/Hydro-Hub-Concept-Survey-2025 )

You are invited to see the new plans on show at a public meeting at The University of Chester’s Riverside Innovation Centre (CH1 1SL) at 3pm or 7pm on 9th July.  The Entrance is next to the Wheeler building just off Castle Drive.  Nearest parking is the Little Roodee car park. 

CHASE is already working alongside Cheshire Historic Buildings Preservation Trust to develop designs and plans for operation as an education and skills centre, attraction and energy generator.

The redevelopment of the Hydro Hub has received funding from Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Climate Emergency Fund as a project that can reduce carbon emissions and contribute to the borough's ambition of becoming carbon neutral by 2045. Cheshire West and Chester Council has been supportive of CHASE’s vision to transform the building into the Hydro Hub.

The Hydro Hub has also received funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) and the Community Energy Fund (CEF).

Pictured - L to R: Dr Niall McFadyen, Chair of Cheshire Heritage and Sustainability Enterprises, Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and Sam Dixon, MP for Chester North and Neston meeting outside the Hydro Building, Castle Drive.