Former-diplomat Sir Nigel Broomfield warned that the ‘sheer bulk’ of the proposed building, which could be 47 metres high, could have a ‘severe impact’ across St Helier, especially on the Parade and also on the Waterfront.
And he has supplied drawings made by a local architect indicating that the actual size of the hospital could be about a third higher than an artist’s impression which was submitted with the planning application.
A planning official claimed that there is ample information online but admitted some drawings submitted with the application under-represent the maximum potential size of the proposed £466 million facility.
Meanwhile, a Health Department spokesman said that some ‘unofficial sketches’ had misrepresented the size of the project.
Sir Nigel, who describes himself as a ‘concerned layman’, said that images provided so far have not given an indication of the ‘dramatic’ impact the hospital would have on the town.
‘The planning application gives no 3D impressions from the north, south, east and west approaches to St Helier nor an essential masterplan review, which would include full consultation with stakeholders,’ he said.
‘We are therefore in danger of overlooking or downplaying future damage to our heritage and wellbeing which will last long after the hospital has reached its replacement date.’
After consulting local architects, Sir Nigel said that he discovered that under current plans the new hospital could be as tall as 47 metres.
‘So far, the artist’s impression shows a large building from the street level. It does not show its relationship to the area in which it will be placed nor the wider precedent it will set for St Helier as whole,’ he said.
‘At a stroke it was confirmed at the recent Inspectors’ meeting that 47 metres – the height of the towers in the new hospital, not incidentally 36 metres which is what the States voted on – would become the new planning ceiling for future buildings in St Helier.’
He added: ‘It will sit at the so called “Western Gateway” to St Helier, which the Island Plan seeks to improve. It will be the first building visitors to the town will see as they come in from the Airport and will give St Helier an industrial impression.’
John Nicholson, the States principal planner, said that the dimensions outlined in the planning application were the ‘maximum’ size of the hospital but a smaller building could actually be built.
‘The applicant has issued various other material, including photomontage images with the application, which they did not identify as “for approval” and which do not show the maximum mass of the application,’ he said.
‘Rather, they show a smaller building which the applicant believes potentially might be the scale of the structure when the final design details are confirmed (the current application is in outline and shows the maximum scale).
‘Then again, a smaller building might not emerge.’
A spokesman for the Health Department said that the 47 metre height would not set a precedent for other buildings in St Helier and there was ‘substantial’ information on the planning application website.
‘47 metres is the maximum height, including an allowance for flues, with the building itself being a maximum of 43 metres,’ he said.
‘This compares to the maximum height of the existing General Hospital of 39.6 metres. The new building would not set a precedent for future construction in St Helier, as the Hospital has been acknowledged in design guidance as a special case due to its importance to the Island.’
He added, however, that some ‘unofficial sketches’ that have been circulated are ‘significantly misrepresentative’ of the scale of the project.
The States were due to debate how to fund the £466 million future hospital project on Tuesday.
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