PLANS to turn the former site of a fruit and vegetable wholesaler into a residential development compromising 14 new homes have been submitted.
Proposals include demolishing and converting a number of existing buildings at the old Homefields site on Grande Route de St Clement and turning them into one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as two-, three- and four-bedroom houses.
If successful, the main house, which is currently used for residential purposes, would be converted into four one-bedroom and two two-bedroom apartments.
The first of two outbuildings would be converted into houses – one two-bed, three three-bed and one with four bedrooms. The second outbuilding would be turned into a three-bedroom home.
A barn would also be built to accommodate two two-bedroom apartments. A number of redundant polytunnels and glasshouses which sit on the site would be demolished.
The owners of Homefields wholesaler, whose current operation sits opposite the proposed site for development after they scaled up their business a number of years ago, have said that the plans have nothing to do with them and their shop will be unaffected.
In a design statement submitted to the planning website on behalf of the applicant by architects Axis Mason, they said that the regeneration aimed to ‘bring new life’ to what was a ‘largely disused site’.
‘The proposed refurbishment of Homefields intends to regenerate the site, by providing a local and community-focused residential development, while still maintaining the integrity and historic uses of the existing buildings on site.
‘Without investment and refurbishment, these listed buildings will fall further into disrepair. The proposed regeneration of the site will help provide homes in the countryside, without having to develop greenfields sites,’ they said.
‘The reinstatement and enhancement of the existing listed buildings further protects the character of the countryside, by accommodating the modern need for housing within a traditional setting,’ they added.
Part of the plans also includes demolishing the polytunnels on field 230A and returning the land to agricultural use.
‘The removal of the disused and dilapidated polytunnels, and return of the land to agricultrual use, further reinforces the site of its countryside character, while enhancing the overall aesthetic of the site. The removal of the glasshouses and swimming pool enclosure also allows for increased landscaped area, which further complements the traditional countryside location,’ they said.
‘Adequate buffers in the form of traditional Jersey banques, tree lines and bolstering of existing hedges between the agricultural field and the development areas, as well as neighbouring sites will screen the development from view,’ they added.
They said that the development would have ‘no impact’ on the traffic requirements on site.
They added: ‘The site is also sustainably located, within walking distance of transport links and local amenities. The close proximity of the site to these local amenities will also provide additional support to the parishes of Grouville and St Clement.’
