New fire detection equipment being installed in York holding cells
It's as people were at risk due to the current lack of heat and smoke detectors
Changes to cells where prisoners are held in York have been approved.
Ministry of Justice plans are set to see new fire detection equipment installed in nine of the holding cells in York Crown Court.
Government plans stated people held in the cells and staff were currently at risk due to the current lack of heat and smoke detectors.
Council planning officers stated the less than substantial harm caused to the Grade-I listed court building was outweighed by the benefits of the works.
The plans come as part of Government efforts to improve fire safety in holding cells and custody suites across the country.
HM Prison and Probation Service has committed to ensuring all jail accommodation complies with fire safety standards by 2027 after a quarter of occupied prison places were found to not meet them.
The proportion equates to around 23,000 prison places, according to National Audit Office (NAO) findings in December 2024.
Prisons Minister Lord James Timpson said in March the Government was doing everything it could to ensure prisons are brought up to standard and significant progress had been made.
Plans for York Crown Court would see equipment installed in nine cells along with cables connecting it to a control and alarm panel in the Custody Suite’s Dock Officer’s Room.
The installations would follow a standardised approach set out for works to cells nationally.
York Crown Court was designed by architect John Carr and built in the 1770s.
It was originally known as the Assizes Court and replaced the earlier Jury House built there in the 17th Century.
The court is one of a number of civic buildings in the York Castle complex and is opposite the former Female Prison which now houses the Castle Museum.
Ministry of Justice plans stated the installations would protect the historic fabric of the building.
Plans stated: “The proposed works are to the interior of the building, to provide enhanced fire detection and safety for defendants and custody suite security staff supporting the operation of individual cells, the custody suite and the building as a whole.”
Council planning officers stated alterations to the cells would be minimal.
Officers stated: “The holding cells are an integral part of the designated heritage asset and illustrative of the use for the administration of justice, both at the date of their construction and today.
“The proposed works to install smoke and heat detectors and a new alarm
panel will cause a degree of harm, this is less than substantial.
“The detectors will be a clear modern insertion, and cabling follows alignment where there is existing cable routes and ducting.
“There is public benefit- the submission explains the necessity of the works and reasonably justifies the approach.”