Chester told to abandon unlawful teaching in science park buildings

Planning Inspectorate rules the University of Chester must close student buildings near oil refinery

The University of Chester has been given one year to shut down teaching at its Thornton Science Park site after the Planning Inspectorate rejected an appeal on safety grounds, saying the university’s case fell, “a very considerable way short of what would reasonably be expected of expert evidence”.

Diane Lewis, an inspector for the Planning Inspectorate, ruled that the university should be given 12 months to close all teaching buildings for undergraduate and postgraduate students except one at Thonrton Science Park, which also houses research and development laboratories in aviation, environmental, chemical and energy industries.