Plans to protect historic Chester Rows with new fire detection system

Documents submitted at the beginning of December confirm that Cheshire West and Chester Council hope to put new technology in place to protect around 126 units along Northgate Street, Eastgate Street, Bridge Street and Watergate Street, which are made up of mixture of Grade I, II* and II listed buildings.

A document from Donald Insall Associates Chartered Architects and Historic Building Consultants on behalf of the Council, says: "The density of historic properties, their city central location, widespread use of timber framed construction and extensive public access, means the [threat] of fire is ever present across the Rows of Chester. As such, the project brief sought to enhance the existing heat detection installed across the Rows."

The hope is to remove the existing "outdated and incomplete" heat detection system and install a new complete fire detection and alarm system that covers all of the Rows. This would allow for future proofing or future upgrading of the new system and planners say considerations have been made to minimise an impact on historic materials.

The new system would be an Aspirating Smoke Detector (ASD) system, which the proposals say would result in "the lowest impact on the historic fabric and character of the Rows."

The proposed system would cover all four streets. (Image: Charles Thomas Heritage Fire Protection via CWAC Planning Portal.)

Cheshire West and Chester Council has appointed Charles Thomas Heritage Fire Protection specialists, who provide innovative fire protection solutions to the Heritage sector, to install the additional fire protection.

A version of the system was previously tested during the summer last year, with four areas: Rosies Nighclub, Northgate Street Row East; Olive Tree Brasserie, Watergate Street Row South; Powell Jewellery, Bridge Street Row East and Dian Harbridge Bridal Couture, Bridge Street Row West, the first locations to trial the new technology.

The document continues: "The vast majority of the equipment required for the system can be located within existing fire panel enclosures; with only a handful of new items of equipment being required. Where new equipment is required that will be on show, this has been placed as discreetly as possible."

The plans conclude: "The proposals seek to replace the existing outdated and incomplete heat detection system currently installed across the Rows of Chester with an enhanced ASD system. This will offer much better protection against the potential spread of fire across this unique heritage destination that is of national and international significance. Should a fire be allowed to take hold along the Rows, the open arrangement and widespread use of exposed timber construction, would result in widespread loss of highly significant historic fabric and have a detrimental effect on not only the Rows, but the character of Chester city centre as a whole. The proposed works will therefore offer better protection against such a risk."