Hundreds of new homes in north of St Helier by 2023

Hundreds of new homes in north of St Helier by 2023

Andium Homes’ outline proposals to extend the Millennium Town Park to St Saviour’s Road and build 122 new homes and an underground car park at the old Gas Works site were approved unanimously by a Planning Committee this week.

The government-owned social housing developer already has approval for, or is developing plans for, more than 500 homes in the north of town and elsewhere in St Helier, including at Ann Court, Le Clos Couriard in Rouge Bouillon and at the Robin Hood site on Springfield Road.

Evidence of the high demand for new housing in the Island was seen this week, with more than 250 inquiries being made for Andium’s 15-unit development at Belmont Court – the site which formerly housed the boiler for Ann Street Brewery.

And plans lodged by Le Masurier to demolish several buildings on Bath Street – neighbouring the former Odeon cinema – could see another 145 flats built at the opposite end of the town park, taking the total number of new homes up to 750.

The private developer hopes to build 82 one-bedroom and 63 two-bedroom flats at the site. A decision on that planning application was adjourned this week, but the Planning Department has recommended that it be approved.

Earlier this year, a housing-needs survey estimated that the Island will need 1,100 first-time buyer family homes by 2030 if current population trends continue. In all, the report said that 7,000 new homes were needed by that date.

Speaking after the Gas Place decision to approve 122 new homes, Dominque Caunce, Andium’s head of communications, said the next stage was to agree the external appearance of the property and the materials that would be used.

She said: ‘The team has worked hard to ensure that the submitted scheme not only took into account the remit provided by States Members, but also the existing residents of the area.

‘There is already an outline permit in place for 253 homes on the site, but instead, the committee has approved our proposal for 122 new homes, an extension to the Millennium Town Park running all the way through to St Saviour’s Road and an underground car park providing 150 public spaces, 112 residential spaces and a further ten spaces for Islanders who live in Tunnell Street.

‘We are currently progressing the demolition of the gas holder and carrying out further site investigation work prior to demolishing the remaining buildings towards the end of next year. We hope to complete the scheme in 2023.’

St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft, a long-term campaigner for more green space in St Helier, also welcomed the decision.

‘In an ideal world I would have liked the whole of the Jersey Gas site to be an extension of the town park,’ he said.

‘But we got to where we are after already having a permission in place for 250 units and no extension, so I think this compromise is acceptable.

‘It allows the original vision of the park reaching St Saviour’s Road to be achieved and at least the number of units has been reduced, otherwise it would have been town cramming. I commend Andium for doing this.’

He added: ‘I think that residents are really going to benefit from having this extra green space, especially with an increasing number of residents coming to the area.

‘Another important thing is that the original town park proposition that was taken to the States included an underground car park and that wasn’t delivered.

‘The fact that Andium are including 150 parking spaces in their scheme is to be welcomed and will be of great benefit to users of the park and the nearby doctors surgeries, as well as shoppers and tourists.’

Speaking about Belmont Court, Jonny Gough, head of financial planning at Andium Homes, said it was a ‘step forward’ in the wider regeneration of the north of town.

‘It is always difficult to gauge demand for these types of units, but it’s very clear it’s there,’ he said.

‘This area of town is going to benefit from significant redevelopment over the next three to five years, with the plans for the gas works and brewery sites and the work which has already begun at Ann Court.’

FACTBOX

Andium Homes’ plans to build more than 600 homes in the north of town also includes:

*Ann Court

165 new flats (130 one-bed and 35 two-bed), four commercial units and 127 parking spaces for shoppers. Due to be built by 2021.

*Ann Street Brewery

Initial plans are for 250 mixed-accommodation units to be built on this site, which is currently a temporary car park, by 2023.

*Belmont Court

By the end of this year 15 new homes, including three one-bed flats, 11 two-bed flats and one three-bed apartment, will be completed on this site, which formerly housed the boiler for the Ann Street Brewery.

*Le Clos Couriard

A total of 82 new homes, including seven three-bedroom houses, 52 one-bedroom flats and 23 two-bedroom flats, are due to be built by the end of 2021 on the former Summerland site off Rouge Bouillon, which was previously used by the police. The new development will be named after the late Michael ‘Mitch’ Couriard, a former honorary police officer and community figure.

*Robin Hood

Situated on the corner of Trinity Road and Springfield Road, a new residential development is being planned on the site. Proposals for a 21-home development were refused by Planning but Andium is reviewing further options.

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