Chester an Historic City
In September 1993, Cheshire County Council, Chester
City Council and English Heritage appointed Building Design Partnership, Donaldsons and MVA to carry out a study
called " The future of an Historic City '' . It is part of the wider debate that is occurring nationally about
the need to secure sustainable development to enhance the future of our cities. The Planning system must be based
on the principles of sustainable development. In order to achieve this, policies must be based on the "precautionary
principle''. In May 1994, in a major step towards achieving sustainability, Chester City Council became a signatory
to the Sustainable Cities Campaign . The council has adopted park and ride site's, also it's limiting the parking
in the city centre ,we have also seen the recent pedestrianisation of the City centre streets. All these have had
a significant impact on retaining Chester's Historic core by limiting access, and reducing the desire to park in
the City centre there are implications on the sustainability of new developments, and the viability of the existing
users.
" Street patterns and frontages as with the urban grain , the same aim should apply to the way in which Chester's
critical streets, paths and alleyways, building frontages are treated in considering new development. Their loss
or severance has had a significant effect in the City . In order to protect the essential qualities of historic
Chester key buildings and street patterns should be identified and used to guide the form of the development. ''
( The Future of an Historic City )
Large developments increase the density of activity in the centre with its attendant traffic and other impacts,
the capacity guideline therefore is that where historic plot sizes can be identified any development and redevelopment
should respect those sizes. Where the plot size has lost its historic pattern, redevelopment should be in sympathy
with the historic plot sizes of the City. The loss of critical, streets, paths and alleyways is as important to
the urban grain as the loss of historic buildings and plots .
The Future of an Historic City Guidelines and Principles ( v ) Urban Grain p76
In those sectors of the central area where large development has not already taken place, the prime aim should
be to retain the scale and texture of the urban fabric. The relationship of solid ( i.e. buildings) and void (
i.e. spaces between buildings ) is of great importance to such an aim . Historical research has revealed how this
relationship has changed, in some cases to a point where the qualities of Chester's urban grain have been lost
completely . therefore in assessing development opportunities in the central area it is suggested that the solid
and void relationship created or affected by the development should carefully considered . A general guideline
of 60% building footprint to 40% space between buildings would be appropriate starting point for these considerations
. Where modern development has already depleted the qualities of urban grain the same general guideline could be
applied to future redevelopment .
" Street patterns and frontages as with the urban grain , the same aim should apply to the way in which Chester'
scritical streets, paths and alleyways , building frontages are treated in considering new development . Their
loss or severance has had a significant effect in the City . In order to protect the essential qualities of historic
Chester key buildings and street patterns should be identified and used to guide the form of the development .
'' ( The Future of an Historic City )
Large developments increase the density of activity in the centre with its attendant traffic and other impacts,
the capacity guideline therefore is that where historic plot sizes can be identified any development and redevelopment
should respect those sizes . Where the plot size has lost its historic pattern, redevelopment should be in sympathy
with the historic plot sizes of the City . The loss of critical, streets, paths and alleyways is as important to
the urban grain as the loss of historic buildings and plots .
2. 2.16 The Future
of an Historic City
The most significant change has been the level of vacancies . There has been a steady increase in percentage terms
since 1988 with a significant increase since 1992. During the period 1985 to 1992 there has been an overall gain
of vacant properties of 4.64 % and a gain of 45 units that have become vacant . Compared to the Goad Samistat profile
report, vacancies in Chester are marginally higher than the national average both in terms of shop count and floorspace
and therefore not considered to be a significant problem despite the fact that historic vacancy levels have been
lower .
Given that many of the listed buildings occupied by shop units form part of the Rows, the assumption is that the number of listed vacant shop units is rising . Chester City Council's Property Data revealed, that at the time of the study of 101 vacant shops 20% were listed shops .The condition survey revealed that the total number of listed buildings at risk and occupied , vacant or partially occupied and or vulnerable in Chester is 242 ( approximately 33% )
