Appendix H Housing

Chester has higher than average house prices and prices have continued to increase within and in close proximity to the City Centre. There remains a strong market appetite for housing in the heart of Chester but limited opportunity. As a result, there is little affordability for first-time buyers, families, and low-income households wishing to reside in the City Centre. The limited number of households living in the centre results in there being little local ‘life’ in the city outside of business and retail hours.19

The level of owner occupation decreased slightly from 69% to 65% across the PROMIS centres between 2001 and 2011 reflecting an increasing trend towards private renting particularly in the aftermath of the recession. The level of owner occupation in Chester is significantly above average.20

The City Centre offers an exciting and sustainable location for new homes, in close proximity to employment opportunities, shops and services, which reduce the need for residents to travel. Increasing the population of the City Centre will make the city more vibrant and alive and, in turn, will support Chester’s economic growth. The Council set out in its One City Plan how it aims to deliver a supply of new homes to meet the needs and demands of existing and future residents and families, with a focus on high quality, higher density, low carbon, and well-designed living environments. 21

Specific opportunities for new homes should be explored and supported including city living within the underutilised upper storeys of the Rows, waterside living at Tower Wharf and Crane Wharf, as well as mixed density housing around Commonhall Street in the heart of the historic centre. Where possible housing provision should address the citywide shortage of family homes.

Chester is set to accommodate 5,200 residential units between 2015-2030. Many of these dwellings are to be delivered outside of the City Centre, with 1,300 residential units being brought forward at Land at Wrexham Road (Local Plan (Part One) Policy STRAT 3). The Council’s Annual Monitoring Report 2020 states that 73% of these dwellings have already been delivered (3,817 units).

In the justification text to Local Plan (Part Two) Policy DM 20, the Council state that there is an identified need for 2 and 3-bed dwellings in the Borough.

The Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) (2013) assesses the housing market, need, and requirements in CWaC. A number of datasets included in the SHMA have been formulated by spatial zones. Chester City Centre is included in the Chester Urban Area as denoted at Figure 1.1 below. Although Chester Urban Area data does not directly correspond to the City Centre, it is useful in setting out the housing market which will have a direct bearing on the context and performance of the housing market in the City Centre.

In addition, notwithstanding the usefulness of Chester Urban Area data, the household survey which informed the SHMA sets out how CWaC is an appropriate geography for planning purposes over which to assess and meet housing requirements. 39,458 households had moved home between 2008-2013, of which 65.7% of households originated from within CWaC. Of the households that intend to move over the next five years, over 70% intend to remain in CWaC. Around 28,800 households plan to move in the next five years, with 27.5% of those stating Chester City and its suburbs as their primary destination choice.

Across CWaC, analysis of general market aspirations and expectations suggests that 75.2% of households looking to move would like to move to a house (50.8% would like to move to a detached house), 6.6% would like to move to a flat, and 18.1% to a bungalow. In terms of property size, a higher proportion of households would like a property with four or more bedrooms (31.3%).

In terms of the Chester housing market, the high cost of City Centre was identified as a limiting factor. The Chester market was assessed by one agent as split 70-30 between locals and newcomers. The impact of student demand should also not be underestimated within the centre.22

19 Chester One City Plan p15

20 Promis Retail Report, PMA (April 2021).

21 Chester One City Plan p32