Rebuilt homes replacing the properties obliterated by a major fire in Canterbury will not have life-saving sprinklers fitted, we can reveal.

Research by KentOnline's sister paper the Kentish Gazette suggests the simple devices would cost around £900 per flat if incorporated into the construction at the Tannery.

Yet owner Town and Country housing association says it will not fork out because the equipment is not required by law.

Canterbury City Council is joining calls for changes in legislation following our revelation last week that no investigation or recommendations had resulted from the blaze last year.

It will also "strongly recommend" developers of new multi-storey buildings of timber-frame construction install sprinkler systems.

Town and Country will not need planning permission for its rebuild, so such advice from the authority will not apply.

In a bizarre twist of irony, the association even says it supports the council's stance on sprinklers.

Town and Country has just appointed Jenner Contractors to construct the 15 properties, which were destroyed in the blaze last July. A further 29 homes were damaged.

It says it has been working closely with its insurers and the homes will be rebuilt "to comply with the existing building regulations, which do not require sprinkler systems in such buildings".

Spokesman Rachel Branson said: "We have been working with our insurers and taken a lead on the repair to the properties at the Tannery, some of which were owned by third parties.

"Although this was a serious fire, much of the damage was caused by the demolition needed to make the building safe.

"As the damage to the building was not to ground level, a planning application was not required to complete the repairs.

"Sprinklers have not been included in the rebuild programme as the current building regulations do not require them to be included" - Rachel Branson

"However, any changes in building regulations will be incorporated into the reconstruction of the properties."

Ms Branson said the decision not to install sprinklers was based on the requirements of building regulations.

She continued: "Sprinklers have not been included in the rebuild programme as the current building regulations do not require them to be included, however should they and planning laws change we will comply with any changes in legislation."

Daniel Chantler is a senior estimator with Triangle Fire Systems, a company which installs sprinklers.

He says installation during the construction of an average-sized two-bedroom flat would typically cost between £800 and £900.

Funds collected through an appeal launched by the Gazette for the victims of the fire, who lost all or many of their possessions, had been distributed to them, Town and Country confirmed.

Canterbury City Council is to lobby for new laws to make sprinkler systems mandatory in timber-framed housing developments.

The issue was raised at the council's policy and resources committee meeting last week by Cllr Michael Dixey, where members agreed that building regulations should be reviewed.

The authority is now vowing to put pressure on the government to make sprinklers a requirement in all new multi-storey timber-framed building schemes.

Members have also agreed that planners will strongly recommend new developments in the district are fitted with the devices.

Council leader Simon Cook said: "The Tannery fire last year caused huge damage, so the committee fully understood why people want to see action being taken."

No one was hurt when fire ripped through the Tannery development but firefighters at the scene expressed shock at how quickly the inferno spread.

Cllr Cook said: "We will be contacting other councils to ask them to join us in lobbying central government to change the building regulations."