Earlier this year, applicants Castle Properties (Jersey) Ltd submitted a scheme to build 184 homes on land next to Grand Marché off Avenue et Dolmen du Pré des Lumières and Rue Le Masurier.
- The Islands first gasworks were established in 1830 by Thomas Edge on land bought from Philippe de Quetteville, where the so-called BOA Warehouse now stands.
- The plot had originally been marshland and, later, fields owned by a number of Jersey families.
- Records show that the original gasworks company employed seven clerks, two foremen, 77 men and 20 boys, responsible for introducing gas lighting in Jersey.
- When Mr Edge became bankrupt, the St Helier gasworks were sold to a local trustee.
- The site later moved to wider commercial use, offering large-scale storage space.
However, those plans received about 70 letters of objection and the project was withdrawn in early August.
Now the same developers have returned with a revised set of proposals for the site, which come as Council of Ministers work to provide more housing in areas that are already built up to combat a shortage of homes.
Under the revised scheme, on the L-shaped site – the home of redundant warehouses once used by fulfilment firm Play.com – 174 units would be built in three main blocks, as well as two redeveloped units known as Archway House and West Terrace.
The revised plans for the so-called BOA Warehouse site involve building 76 one-bedroom apartments, 79 two-bedroom units and three three-bedroom apartments.
Six three-bedroom maisonettes and ten three-bedroom town houses would also be built, if approval is given.
Four commercial units, a community facility, communal gardens and 191 parking spaces would also be provided.
The overall mass of the scheme, its lay-out and access routes in and out of the site would all be agreed under the outline plans, but the final look of the development and landscaping would be determined under a full planning application that would follow.
Architect Carlo Riva, whose firm is handling the project’s design, said that the original plans were withdrawn following talks with the Planning Department which had been prompted by objections made by neighbours.
‘It was suggested that we consider a reduced scheme, in particular one that was in keeping with the Victorian character of the area,’ he said.
‘As a result, the flat roofs of the two central blocks have been replaced with pitched roofs, which has brought about the removal of the top storey of certain blocks.
‘As part of the previous application we got a good number of letters from residents, and we’ve gone through them all and, where possible, have taken on board the comments made.’
Mr Riva explained that while there was a Victorian style to many of the homes in the surrounding area, the site itself was a former industrial plot that once housed gasworks.
And although there are no listed properties at the venue, some elements of the older, historic buildings would be retained under the plans.
He added: ‘Certain demands have been placed on St Helier to meet the housing requirements for Jersey’s future, so we are trying to meet the needs of Island housing while retaining characteristics of certain parts of town.’
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.’
