- Campaigners warned last week that a housing development planned in St Helier would be like ‘Gotham City’
- They have now released plans for an alternative on the site, which have been designed by a UK architect
- Petition has been launched in opposition to current scheme, which is for 183 homes
- Are there too many housing developments planned in St Helier? Take part in our poll below
CAMPAIGNERS who warned that a proposed housing development in the north of St Helier could turn the town into a ‘watered-down Gotham City’ have released sketches of how they want the site to be developed.
Pressure group Save Jersey’s Heritage last week described plans for a 183-home development near Grand Marché as ‘overwhelming’ and called for the designs to be sent back to the drawing board.
The campaigners, and several local residents, say that they are not opposed to a development on the site but want designs to reflect the character of the surrounding area.
UK architect Jonathan Dransfield, who has designed similar projects in England, has also criticised the plans for the site, which was previously occupied by Play.com.
Mr Dransfield has now created draft sketches of his vision for the area, which involves converting the existing granite and brick warehouses into housing.
The sketches are due to be sent to Environment Minister Steve Luce this week.
Residential Accommodation
- 80 one-bedroom apartments
- 84 two-bedroom apartments
- 3 three-bedroom apartments
- 6 three-bedroom maisonettes
- 10 three-bedroom town houses
Total: 183 units of accommodation
Commercial Units
4 commercial units will be included as part of the design proposals:
- Unit 1 – 307m2
- Unit 2 – 104m2
- Unit 3 – 104m2
- Unit 4 – 95m2
Parking
- 10 dedicated car parking spaces for the commercial units
- 183 residential car parking spaces
- 17 visitor car parking spaces (including two electric car charging points)
Servicing Areas
- Bicycle storage
- Resident storage
- Plant Refuse/recycling area
‘The aim should be to create a community not a dormitory,’ said Mr Dransfield.
‘It is wrong to say renovation of these warehouses is not economically viable.
‘Half the structure is already there, offering significant economies.
‘The old warehouses add an element of character that you can’t just build into a new scheme.’
If the proposals are approved, 80 one-bedroom flats, 84 two-bedroom flats, three three-bedroom apartments, six three-bedroom maisonettes, ten three-bedroom town houses and four commercial units would be built.
The plans also include up to 200 parking spaces.
Save Jersey’s Heritage president Marcus Binney said Mr Dranfield’s design was more in keeping with the area.
‘It is easy to criticise. What we are doing is matching our criticism with plausible ideas for an alternative.
‘We firmly believe that a scheme along the lines we propose will deliver a better solution not only for the residents of the new development, but also for those who will have to live alongside it.’
Residents who live close to the site between the Avenue et Dolmen du Pré de Lumières and Rue Le Masurier have started a petition against the development.
‘The document can be signed at The Organic Shop in Stopford Road.
Islanders who oppose the plans have also been invited to leave their comments on the planning website.
ALMOST 150 workers lost their jobs when the Island’s biggest online retailer announced that it was leaving Jersey following the loss of a vital tax relief.
In one of the most devastating blows to hit the Island following the loss of LowValue Consignment Relief in 2012, Play.com announced in January 2013 that 147 warehouse and finance department staff were to be made redundant before the end of March.
The news signalled the end of Jersey’s association with Play.com, which grew from a three-man operation above a sports shop in town into a multi-millionpound global enterprise employing hundreds of people in Jersey and thousands more across the world.
Play.com said at the time that the loss of LVCR, which allowed Jersey-based firms to sell low-value goods such as CDs and DVDs to the UK VAT-free, was a key reason behind the decision.
A spokesperson for the firm, which was started by Islanders Richard Goulding, Simon Perrée and Peter de Bourcier and was sold to Japanese retail giant Rakuten in 2011 for £25 million, said: ‘Following a strategic review of our business operations, we have today announced a company restructure. We are intending to … phase out the direct retail part of our business. The removal of Low-Value Consignment Relief implemented in April 2012 has been the determining factor in this decision.
‘As a result, we will be entering into consultation with staff on the proposed changes, which include the redundancy of 147 employees from our finance and warehouse teams in Jersey.’
