- Andium Homes want to demolish five low-rise blocks and replace them with five larger blocks to provide 147 new homes.
- The current listed buildings were created in the 1960s and contain 59 flats.
- Rejecting the plans, the Planning Applications Panel said that the project needed some fine-tuning’.
PLANS to build dozens of homes to help reduce the number of Islanders waiting to move into social rented accommodation have been rejected by the Planning Applications Panel.
A major redevelopment of the low-rise La Collette Flats in Green Street had been planned by Andium Homes, which took over responsibility for the States’ housing portfolio last year.
However, after reviewing the scheme at a public planning meeting on Thursday, the panel rejected the outline plans, saying that the project needed ‘some fine-tuning’.
- Andium Homes is a States-owned company that acts independently to look after the Islands housing portfolio.
- Previously the Housing Department had responsibility for the administration of Jerseys social rented accommodation, affordable housing and accommodation for older Islanders, but Andium was given oversight of these area last year.
- The company manages more than 4,500 properties and provides accommodation for more than 10,000 Islanders.
- They have embarked upon a major drive to bring all States-owned housing up to the nationally recognised decent homes standard and are also creating hundreds of new homes at sites across the Island.
Under the plans, Andium had hoped to demolish the five low-rise blocks – listed buildings created in the 1960s which contain 59 flats – and replace them with five larger blocks to provide 147 new homes, with 214 parking spaces.
Several residents who live close to the development spoke against the plans, saying that the increase in size of the blocks would have a negative impact on the street.
Neighbour Adam Routier said: ‘This will take away natural sunlight from most of the properties in Green Street.
‘There doesn’t seem to have been proper consideration of the surrounding area and the impact on the community.’
And David Eves, who has lived in the area for 19 years, said that the plans risked turning Green Street and Havre des Pas into ‘a ghetto’ if high-density projects were permitted.
‘This is supposed to be a spacious holiday area,’ he added.
However, La Collette Flats residents told the panel that their homes were not fit for purpose and that Andium’s project was needed to improve the lives of dozens of tenants.
Tenant Indigo Richard said: ‘The flats are damp and impossible to heat on a low income.
‘These are very poor conditions and are unhealthy for children to grow up in.
‘We feel that the refurbishment of the existing buildings will not resolve many of the major issues we face on a daily basis.’
Andium’s David Morris, the head of capital projects for the organisation, said: ‘Andium Homes has a social commitment to provide social rented schemes to the Island.
- 75 per cent of States-owned homes meet the Decent Homes standard
- The waiting list on the affordable housing gateway, which monitors those who need accommodation, currently exceeds 1,200
- The company works to help more than 10,000 people
- 1 July 2014 the date that Andium began operating
- 4,500 the number of homes for which Andium provides landlord services
‘We have a waiting list that is growing and this is one of the key sites that will help reduce that waiting list.’
The meeting also heard from the States’ principal historic buildings officer, Tracey Ingle, who said that the complex as it stood represented the best example of low-rise architecture from the 1960s in Jersey.
Despite the residents’ support for the plans, three panellists – chairwoman Constable Juliette Gallichan, Deputy Jeremy Maçon and Constable Philip Le Sueur – voted against the scheme. Only Deputy Graham Truscott supported the project.
Mr Le Sueur added: ‘I have no difficulty with the loss of the listed buildings, but I do have concerns about the amount of development there is at the back of the site.’
The plans will now be referred to Environment Minister Steve Luce, as the panel’s refusal went against the Planning Department’s recommendation for approval.
IN November 2014 Andium Homes announced the completion of ‘Andium Court’ – 48 newly-built lifelong homes at Langtry Gardens in St Saviour.
Eight of those units have been let to the Health Department to provide accommodation for life for Islanders with special needs.
It was the first development to be completed under the Andium Homes banner, with the majority of the properties reserved for people over the age of 55.
Chairman of the Andium Homes Board Michael Jones said ‘The buildings provide 48 new apartments for people over the age of 55. They have been designed to Lifelong Home standards allowing occupants to remain in their homes even if a significant health or life event should befall them.
‘Situated amongst other purpose built bungalows in the parish of St Saviour, these apartments help to contribute to a welcoming and caring retirement community.’
THE rejection of plans to build 147 new homes on the site of a 1960s low-rise block of flats in Green Street demonstrates just how difficult these decisions are.
Neighbouring residents claimed it would create a ghetto and block out the sun, while those living in the ageing flats said that they were cold, damp and in desperate need of being replaced.
States historic buildings officer Tracey Ingle called for them to be saved as the best example of such architecture in Jersey, while planning officers recommended that the scheme be approved.
Housing Islanders in accommodation which is fit for purpose has to be the top priority. It is something which Andium homes, which now manages the States housing portfolio, is committed to achieving.
It is now up to Environment Minister Steve Luce to have the final say.
It may be that tweaks are needed to the current plans, but it would be wrong for those living in poor quality housing to be made to suffer any longer than they have to because of nimbyism and an esoteric attachment to ugly buildings.
