PLANS for a major transformation of the Waterfront have been submitted, the Jersey Development Company has announced.
Managing director Lee Henry yesterday revealed that an outline planning application for the ‘landscape-led’ scheme had been put forward last month, and that it was likely to be registered before the end of the week.
The latest designs for the ten-year project include around 1,000 new homes, an ‘arthouse’ cinema, new indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a gym and a multi-purpose indoor area for children – which could be used for rock climbing, an ice rink or a roller rink – as well as vehicle and cycle parking facilities for public and residential use.
Mr Henry said: ‘Obviously there is an extensive amount of documents for such a sizeable scheme and that takes time for review and registration by the [Planning] Department. We were notified last week that they have reviewed all of those documents and it has passed, if you like, for registration so there isn’t anything missing from what we have submitted.’
Asked when he thought the application would be formally registered, he said: ‘I’m hoping it will be this week.’
The plans were initially announced in August 2020 and were followed by a series of public consultations, which concluded last summer.
Residential housing units included in the plans are split into 432 one-bed, 374 two-bed and 195 three-bedroom properties.
Mr Henry said: ‘There has been an extensive engagement process over an extended period of time and those comments have been duly considered and either incorporated or reviewed to see if they can be incorporated. The landscape-led scheme [is about] recognising the needs from a residential-accommodation perspective but wanting to ensure that we don’t create a dormitory area. We want to see activation and activities that attract Islanders and visitors to our waterfront.’
Also featured within the proposals are new restaurants and bars, gyms, shops, a ‘kids zone’ with flumes, GP and dental practices and more than 2,000 square metres of arts, culture and community space.
The existing Cineworld building will be removed but not until the arthouse cinema has been constructed. There is also due to be another ‘main’ cinema facility, which is likely to be based at Fort Regent.
Mr Henry added: ‘You look at waterfronts around the world that have been done really well and they are a destination that will attract people, whether it be for the food and beverages, whether it be for a leisurely stroll or various sporting and cultural activities. That is what we are trying to create here, a mix of uses that will create a destination waterfront with a real focus on the environment and biodiversity.’
Following a proposition by former housing minister Senator Sam Mézec, the amount of affordable homes to be included in the redevelopment has been set at 15%.
