Environment Minister Steve Luce said the use of the land for ‘surface-level car parking’ was a ‘waste of space’ and that the site offered the best opportunity for urban regeneration in the area.
During States questions St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft asked Deputy Luce for an update on regeneration programmes under the North of Town Masterplan.
‘Does the minister agree with me that the land to the west of Bath Street – the large brownfield site surrounding the Odeon – is a blight on the
area and a waste of precious land which could be used more wisely?’ he said.
Deputy Luce said that the States were keen to ‘intervene’ in the area but that the owners/developers had not submitted any redevelopment plans.
‘When it comes to the North of Town Masterplan, Members will be aware that Ann Court, Ann Street Brewery, Gas Place, BOA warehouse are all key intervention sites which we have movement on,’ he said.
‘But the one really significant key intervention site is, as the Constable says, to the west of Bath Street and that site at the moment does not have the benefit of any approval from the Planning Department and I’m not aware that the owner of the site is coming forward with anything.’
He added that the ‘greatest opportunity’ to regenerate Bath Street was at the area surrounding the former Odeon cinema.
‘I see no greater waste of space in St Helier than the use of surface-level parking. Cars should be parked underground or at road level, if there’s buildings on top,’ he said.
‘That site is absolutely key and I would urge, and I have said this publicly before, the developer to come forward to discuss with me to see how we can make some progress there.’
