The old BOA warehouse in St Helier – which has lain dormant since Play.com moved their business from the Island – is to be demolished and replaced with 195 new homes and two commercial units.
Originally proposed in 2015, the latest set of plans will include an increase in the number of residential units and an altered, taller design.
Despite several objections from members of the public, the Planning Committee voted in favour of the application yesterday.
Former Education Minister Rod Bryans, who had regularly opposed the plan, said: ‘Originally we complained against the first design. Too high, too great massing, lack of adequate parking, lack of consideration for architectural context, overlooking and overshadowing neighbours, too many people in too small an area.
‘If this is a new plan, then the original concerns and complaints should be reconsidered. Form follows function and not the other way around. Design matters.’
One of the concerns raised before the committee was the potential strain placed on the surrounding roads and infrastructure by the increase in the number of residents and families that would live in the proposed development.
‘Too many people with too few parking spaces,’ said Mr Bryans. ‘The notion that a vehicle of any kind can be supplanted by a bike is fanciful. The majority of people, if not all, will require a car to traverse the Island and every car will need a parking spot. If they can’t park here, then where will they go? The surrounding streets are already crammed full. Townspeople in the north are tired of having their lives and lifestyles diminished by a desire to cram as many people as possible into this small area without due regard for their welfare or well-being.’
Carole McMullen also spoke out against the proposal, saying that having already commented on the earlier proposals for the development on this site ‘all of my former concerns and comments still stand’.
She added: ‘Once again I am horrified at the quantity of dwellings to be squeezed onto this site.’
Ms McMullen was also concerned about the impact the development would have on the surrounding area’s access to natural light and urged the Planning Committee to take this into consideration.
The Planning Committee voted three to one in favour of the application, with Deputies Graham Truscott, Rowland Huelin and Russell Labey voting to approve, while Constable Philip Le Sueur voted against the development.
The development is not far from the gasworks site which Andium homes is developing into 122 new homes, along with a significant extension to the existing Millennium Town Park.
