16 years after the pupils moved out, Islanders invited to sign up for homes on the former JCG site

  • 187 homes being built on site of former school which closed in 1999.
  • New homes unlikely to be completed for another three years.
  • Re-live life at the old school with our Temps Passé gallery.

IT is unlikely to be completed for another three years, but Islanders are already being asked to show their interest in securing a property at the former Jersey College for Girls site which is to be transformed into 187 homes.

After years of planning and preparation, development is soon to begin, and a campaign has been launched to generate interest in the one-, two- and three-bedroom units as well as the penthouses planned for the site.

Although the Jersey Development Company are not revealing the price of the properties, they are encouraging potential buyers to formally register their interest.

The JDC was given planning permission for the scheme, which has been called College Gardens, last year.

Some buildings within the grounds are due to be demolished this summer, with the main building and renovation works expected to begin early next year before being completed by mid-2018.

Of the 187 units, 40 are to be reserved for social rented tenants over 55 years of age, with another 40 offered at discount rates for first-time buyers.

Lee Henry, the managing director of the JDC, said that the group had started marketing the development now to secure buyers for the open-market homes before the scheme is finished, in order to reduce the project’s risk.

Mr Henry said that a show home was due to be created at the site to tie in with the official sales launch of the development.

He added: ‘There are 107 units for sale on the open market, and those range from one through to three-bedroom homes.

‘We’ve also got the refurbishment of the old building , which we will be converting into 28 apartments that retain features of the original structure, high ceilings and big windows.

‘For a development in an urban area, it is unique. And it’s got extensive grounds, which will be renovated for use by the occupiers.’

The development will also feature a gym that will be available to apartment owners.

Mr Henry explained that the JDC had already received a significant number of inquiries about the scheme, adding that prices for the apartments and penthouses were likely to be released closer to the official sale launch of the development in June.

He added that Waddington Architects had provided a fantastic solution for the listed building and large former school grounds.

Talking about the complexities of the project Mr Henry added: ‘Restoring any old building has its challenges, and this will be no different.

‘The two main challenges here will be the restoration of the old building, then you have to deal with the topography of the site. It’s a unique offering for St Helier. There aren’t many sites with that level of amenity space and that level of heritage.’

Potential buyers can register their interest here

An artist's impression of the new development

Back in October 2014, concerns were raised that the new development could lead to a dramatic increase in traffic in the area.

The St Helier roads committee feared that building the properties would put extra pressure on roads and pavements in the area – concerns that were then echoed by parish Constable Simon Crowcroft.

Speaking at the time, the Constable said: ‘I am not convinced by the argument that the development won’t generate traffic.

‘I am particularly concerned about pedestrians crossing the ring road.

‘The pavements are narrow, so TTS are going to have to find ways of managing the increased traffic and pedestrian flow.’

Mr Crowcroft also said that the length of time it had taken the States to develop the site was ‘deplorable’.

Although parts of the site continued to be used for other purposes after the school closed in 1999, Mr Crowcroft said that debate about the plot had continued for almost as long as he had been a States Member.

However, JDC managing director Lee Henry said at the time that a traffic assessment had found that the impact of the homes on surrounding roads would be low.

‘The vehicular movements during the peak hours will be insignificant when compared to the previous use of the site when it operated as a large school,’ he said.

‘Residential development in close proximity to town is positive from a sustainable transport perspective and the Statistics Department records that 50 per cent of St Helier residents walk to work. Given the development’s proximity to places of work and amenities, we believe that most residents who work in St Helier will walk or cycle to work and therefore car use during the peak hours will be minimal.’

An early garden party at the former school

  • ?The Jersey Ladies’ College, as the school was first called, opened on 20 September 1880 at Adelaide House in Roussel Street – roughly where the Ambulance Station is today – with seven staff and 41 pupils
  • ?In September 1888 the college moved to larger, purpose-built premises on Rouge Bouillon at the corner of La Pouquelaye. It soon needed extensions to its boarding facilities, as it attracted pupils from all parts of the world
  • ?Miss Good, who was headmistress from 1915 to 1922, introduced school uniforms and the prefect, form captain and house systems.
  • In 1928 the school was taken over by the Church of England Schools’ Trust.
  • The school changed its name to Jersey College for Girls in the early 1930s and in 1935 it was transferred to the States of Jersey as a feepaying school for girls.
  • ? In 1999 JCG moved up to its present site on Mont Millais, with the entire school walking up to the new buildings on the first day

An early garden party at the former school

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