- Developer submits plans to build nine luxury apartments in place of bungalow
- Original scheme was for three houses on the site, which is opposite Grands Vaux school
- Several objections have been received, including warnings about parking congestion
- What type of property is Jersey most in need of? Take part in our poll below
A RUNDOWN home next to Grands Vaux School could be redeveloped into nine luxury apartments if plans are approved.
Developer Philip Wood has applied to demolish a property called Sunnybank, a postwar bungalow, which forms part of a row of houses that border the school.
He wants to redevelop the site, building nine two-bedroom flats on the land with two parking spaces per unit as well as room for visitors’ cars.
The plans also include two shared roof-top gardens, created under the percentage for art scheme, which requires developers to pay for public art within the grounds of large building projects. Although the final design is yet to be agreed, the planning application says the gardens could include fitted seating areas, sculptures and planting.
Mr Wood said that if his plans were approved he hoped to break ground at the site later this year.
He added: ‘It’s a small, dilapidated postwar bungalow, which is almost ready to fall down. The plot itself is quite large. The plan is to create nine luxury, two-bed, two-bath apartments, which should be a good option for people who want to live on the outskirts of town and walk into work.
‘We bought it just before Christmas and it came with a scheme that had planning approval, but we didn’t feel that it made the most of the site or the area. It was for three town houses. Two had gardens, but one didn’t.’
Mr Wood added that the homes would be convenient for young families as the site is directly opposite Grands Vaux School.
If approved, the developments would be four storeys in height, with the top floor penthouse set back from the front of the building.
A design statement outlining the project, created by MAC Architectural Services Ltd, said: ‘We feel the proposed scheme will enhance the area, make use of a dilapidated site in the built-up zone and provide high-quality accommodation out of town.’
Mr Woods said that the project included improvements to the small lane used to access the site. ‘The lane is in a terrible state and we are looking at resurfacing that for all residents,’ he said. ‘The hope is to break ground before Christmas and hopefully be ready for next year should the plans go through.’
Several objections to the plans have been submitted to the Planning Department, including these comments:
