Project overview

444 Newmarket Road is a purpose-built student accommodation development in Cambridge. The scheme delivers 140 modern studio and cluster apartments on a regenerated brownfield site close to Anglia Ruskin University.

Developed for Stellar Cambridge Ltd, the project helps address the growing demand for student accommodation in one of the UK’s most competitive university cities. The development also prioritises accessibility, with 5% of apartments designed as fully accessible studios.

Alongside high-quality accommodation, the project team wanted to achieve the latest fire safety standards while maintaining independent living for all residents.

The challenge

The design team faced two key challenges.

First, the development featured modern open-plan studio and cluster apartments. These layouts placed cooking appliances close to escape routes. As a result, the project required a fire-engineered solution that supported compliance with BS 9991:2024 and EN 50615 requirements.

Second, the scheme included fully accessible studios for residents who may require additional support. The client wanted to provide a high level of protection while preserving independence and everyday living experiences.

The project team therefore needed a reliable solution that could reduce the risk of cooking-related fires without affecting normal use of the kitchen.

The solution

The team selected the Firechief® Kitchen Stove Guard as part of the building’s fire safety strategy.

The intelligent system works with electric hobs and continuously monitors cooking activity. It identifies potentially dangerous temperature increases and alerts the user when it detects a developing fire risk.

If the user does not respond, the system automatically disconnects power to the hob before ignition can occur.

The Stove Guard can also recognise when a hob has been left on accidentally. This helps prevent incidents caused by unattended cooking, one of the most common causes of domestic fires.

The project team installed Firechief® Kitchen Stove Guards on cooking appliances in 42 apartments. This approach helped resolve the challenges created by open-plan layouts while providing additional reassurance for residents in accessible accommodation.

The results

The installation delivered a practical and cost-effective fire prevention solution across the development.

Key outcomes included:

• Enhanced protection for residents in accessible studios
• Greater support for independent living
• Continuous monitoring of cooking activity
• Fire prevention at source before ignition occurs
• Support for BS 9991:2024 fire-engineered design strategies
• Compliance with EN 50615 Category B requirements
• Quick installation during the construction programme
• No annual maintenance requirements
• No monthly testing requirements
• A discreet design that integrates into modern student accommodation

Most importantly, the solution helped create a safer living environment without compromising the quality, accessibility or usability of the accommodation.

Why stove guards matter in student accommodation

Around half of accidental domestic fires start in the kitchen. Student accommodation can present additional challenges because residents often have varying levels of cooking experience.

Intelligent stove guard technology helps reduce this risk. By identifying dangerous cooking conditions and removing the source of ignition, the system prevents many incidents before they develop into fires.

For developers, fire engineers and building operators, this creates a practical way to improve safety while supporting modern open-plan apartment design.

Project team

• Client: Stellar Cambridge Ltd
• Project Manager & Employer’s Agent: Gleeds
• Architect: CMP Architects
• Main Contractor: Aztec
• M&E Engineer: BSD
• M&E Contractor: Orange Electrical Contractors

Looking for a student accommodation Kitchen Stove Guard solution?

Firechief® Kitchen Stove Guards help developers, architects, consultants and fire engineers improve kitchen fire safety in student accommodation, residential developments and build-to-rent schemes.

Contact our team to discuss how intelligent stove guard technology can support your next project.

To read more about the Kitchen Stove Guard or any of our innovative fire safety products, visit the Firechief® website where you can also read more of our Case Studies.