In a seven-page letter the organisation says the scheme is a ‘lost opportunity’ to set an example for housing providers in the Island.
The planning application for the site was lodged by Dandara, which is acting on behalf of Andium Homes. The proposal includes a 2,000sq-m mini-woodland, new walking and cycling paths and the creation of underground parking for 340 bikes and 163 cars.
If the plans are approved it would mean that at least 953 homes will be built in the north of town, when taking other schemes into account.
These include Le Masurier’s Bath Street development, Castle Properties’ former play.com warehouse proposals and the ongoing Ann Court project.
In their letter regarding the Ann Street Brewery application, the Jersey Architecture Commission said: ‘The proposed homes do not meet the emerging demands of resilience, sustainable communities and providing long-term beautiful places for people to live full and engaged lives.
‘Overall the commission believes the scheme is too densely developed with too many units.
‘It is acknowledged that the demand for housing is very high and the need for affordable homes is acute but the response needs to move away from thinking about numbers [of apartments] to forms of development which are more sustainable.’
It adds: ‘The site has the potential to be an exemplary response to context, housing demand, delivery of urban forestry, biodiversity and climate change adaptation.
‘The commission considers the scheme proposed will not meet this aspiration and remain concerned that this scheme is a lost opportunity to set an example for all housing providers on the Island.’
In another part of the letter, the commission has raised concerns about the layout of the 271 apartments which would be split between four blocks ranging from four to six storeys high.
‘The flats are single aspect and deeper than they are wide which means electric lights will be needed during the day in the kitchen and open-plan hall areas,’ it says.
‘The front door on the upper floor flats opens into an open-plan kitchen/dining/living room area which has the bathroom and bedrooms also opening off it. This both reduces privacy and means that noises and smells from the living areas will permeate the flat.’
It adds: ‘The ground floor units have front doors which directly access into the living room area. This will make the lounge function as a corridor.’
