Buyer found for fire house

Apr 4 2008 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

AN ESTATE agents is talking to a potential buyer for a prominent empty building which keeps going up in flames.

Fire crews say vagrants are living in Chester’s former George Street School and in the latest incident, last Wednesday, a camp fire got out of control.

Back in February there was a more serious blaze when a vagrant’s radio, being powered by a 12 volt battery, was involved in a fire which spread to cardboard and rubbish.

Jonathan Owen, of estate agents Sutton Kersh, said negotiations were progressing with one interested party but it was “still early stages”.

The building, which is not listed but lies within a conservation area, has planning permission for 21 apartments, a restaurant/ retail space and a separate student building with 24 parking spaces.

Mr Owen said: “It’s going to be brought back to life and it’s important the building is kept in good order. The fire has not caused any structural damage.”

The asking price has however, come down from £1.7m two years ago to £1.5m now, due to the state of the property market.

Residents are hoping for a successful sale this time around because the building has lain empty since 2000 when it was controversially sold to the highest bidder by Cheshire County Council, forcing the YMCA to vacate the building from where it had served the Newtown community.