How-to guide aims to unlock Chester Rows resi opportunity

Donald Insall Architects, Cassidy + Ashton, and developer Openhome have created a handbook to encourage the conversion of vacant space in the city’s historic heart into homes.

Living over the Rows was prepared on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council, the One City Plan, and Chester Great and Small. It is a guide aimed at helping developers navigate the challenges of converting space above Chester Rows.

• View the handbook

The handbook states there is around 1.3m sq ft of space across just shy of 200 buildings that could lend itself to residential conversion.

One of the main aims of the 20-page guide is to address preconceptions that conversions of this nature are too tricky to consider.

Tony Barton, heritage architect and former chair of Donald Insall Associates, said: “Initially investors may think converting a Rows building would be difficult and costly.

“However, our message is to consider the guide’s case studies provided as proof that these conversions can be easy whether developers are considering micro-apartments for first-time buyers, or homes for growing families.”

The case studies highlighted in the guide include the conversion of the upper floors at 19 Eastgate Row into five apartments and the transformation of 14-20 Watergate Street into 26 apartments.

Increasing the amount of residential in the city centre and attracting new residents to live there is one of the main aims set out in Chester’s One City Plan.

Andy Farrall, chair of the Chester One City Plan Making Group, said: “The spaces above the Rows are hidden in plain sight yet are just waiting to be returned to residential accommodation.

“These beautiful and quirky buildings are central to breathing new life into our city through increased footfall and enhanced vibrancy. The purpose of ‘Living above the Rows’ is to outline the potential challenges and solutions, so that imaginative developers feel empowered to explore these unique opportunities further.”