Professor Steven Broomhead, former chief executive of the Northwest Regional Development Agency, will lead the next phase of the regeneration of Chester – it was revealed today.

Currently chair of entrepreneurial education at Liverpool’s Hope University, Professor Broomhead has been appointed chairman of Chester Renaissance, the organisation founded by the former Chester City Council to guide regeneration.

He will head a new strategic board – a powerful combination of public and private sector representatives – charged with guiding the progress of the recently-announced "One City Plan" and the recommendations of the Urban Land Institute study.

Council leader Mike Jones said: “We are delighted to secure someone of Steven’s calibre and reputation.

"He has huge experience of regeneration matters, regionally and nationally, with extensive knowledge of both the public and private sectors."

Today the man who led the £1.2billion-budgeted Northwest Regional Development Agency for eight years talked of his aspiration for a city with a future intrinsically linked with the past.

“Chester is famously Mrs Thatcher’s Jewel in the Crown of the North West.

"That jewel has become slightly tarnished but the One City Plan will repolish and restore the old glitter,” said Professor Broomhead.

“The Urban Land Institute made the point that the days of Government largess are gone and I’m looking forward to working with the city’s public, private and third sector leaders to achieve our aims together.

It is anticipated that Professor Broomhead will oversee recruitment to the Board by July.