Rows Capital Improvements

We have been advised by Cheshire West and Chester Council that the Chester Heritage Action Zone Partnership is now progressing the capital improvement works for The Rows. The initial focus is some enabling works to look at what the physical conditions are and what works might be possible.  

Please find below draft consultation letter for your review :

Dear Rows Occupant

IMPROVING CHESTER ROWS

What is happening?

You may be aware that Chester Rows has been designated as one of several High Street ‘Heritage Action Zones’ nationally by Historic England. The aim is to help Historic High Streets revive and find new purposes in the light of many challenges!

In Chester, the HAZ opportunities include making changes to the Rows to allow them to be presented at their best to all who work, live and visit there. The proposal is to carry out some improvements to limited areas of The Rows: see the purple and blue shaded areas indicated on the enclosed Plan 1. By improvements, we mean restoring or enhancing visual appearance and making areas more functional and safer. The features we will be investigating are the walkways, ceilings, stall board areas, balustrades, and steps.

In the first instance we need to look more closely at some key areas to see what is already there, to help decide both which improvements can be carried out and which methodology can be adopted. These initial investigations are planned to take place in the purple area on the plan (at the top end of Watergate St Row South and Bridge Street Row West), with the exact locations currently being finalised.

When will this happen?

We are looking at selecting a specialist heritage contractor to carry out the initial investigations, hopefully beginning in September, and taking about 6 weeks to complete.

What will the impact be?

We are very mindful that The Rows is a very significant and sensitive area, both as a built environment, and as a place of business and visitor use. We want to cause the minimum disruption to access and usage of the areas of investigation. This is going to be reflected in the required methods and approach to the works. Rows walkways will remain open at all times whilst the works are in progress

What opportunities does the HAZ have?

One of the HAZ projects is a ‘Shop Frontage Improvement Grant Scheme.’ This scheme will help fund frontage enhancements to commercial properties in need of investment to enhance and provide a lasting impact on the quality of Chester’s historic built environment. Funding is of course limited. We plan to offer grants at a grant rate of 80% with 20% to be found by the property occupier, property owner or other source.

Any commercial property within the HAZ area can be considered for a grant, but with priority being given to commercial properties in the area shown on the enclosed Plan 2. The design of frontages

will need to be assessed as being in-keeping with and appropriate for a conservation area with a high proportion of listed buildings.

In the first instance, we would like to invite you as an occupier (or owners) of commercial property to tells us if you might be interested in applying for a shop front grant.

How can I find out more or make comment?

If you want to express interest in the Shop Front Grants, or have any questions or comments about the proposals or the HAZ more generally, then please feel free to contact us.

Equally if you just want to be kept informed of developments, then please send us an email to let us know.

We are currently developing the webpages about the Heritage Action Zone, and you can view these at: http://chester.westcheshiregrowth.co.uk/projects/heritage-action-zone/

Kind regards

Andy Seddon HAZ Programme Manager Robert Gatensbury Chester Growth Team Manager

andy.seddon@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Tel 0777 1912919 robert.gatensbury@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk Tel 07554437835

PLAN 1 CHESTER HIGH STREET HERITAGE ACTION ZONE