PLANS to convert a barn in Trinity into a two-bedroom home have been criticised by nearby residents, who have raised concerns about the lack of parking and the impact on neighbouring properties.
The proposals include turning the traditional farm building in Rue du Becquet Vincent, which was previously used for commercial storage, into a two-bed unit with one parking space and a ‘small garden’.
MS Planning, which submitted the plans on behalf of applicant Neville de Gruchy, said that the design would cause ‘no unreasonable impact’ to the amenities of immediate neighbours.
A public comment published on the government’s Planning website by Clare Richmond said that if the application was approved, the owners of the property should secure
‘additional land for adequate parking’.
‘The entrance for this proposed refurbishment is opposite and to the right of my property. My concern is that while the building works are going on, where are the contractors going to park?
‘Also, once finished, there is only one car parking space. If the new owners had two cars where’s the second one parked and where will their visitors park? The nearest place with no yellow line is right in front of my property,’ she said.
Another comment, published by Ramsay and Carly Cudlipp, said that the pair ‘don’t object to the development of the barn in principle’ owing to the ‘need for housing in the Island’, but did object to the plans in their ‘current iteration’.
‘The lack of parking provision is our biggest concern. It is folly to suggest that anyone would live in a house in the countryside where they have one parking space, no visitor spaces and a half-mile walk to arguably the most quiet bus route in Jersey.
‘As such, this would negatively impact on the immediate neighbours, who have several parking spaces that would undoubtedly be unfairly appropriated, and the surrounding area – because visitors and the occupants would be forced to park on the road, which is already a dangerous thoroughfare,’ they wrote.
Justine Marett, in her comment, said that a house of such size would require four parking spaces.
‘Any additional cars for the household or from visitors would spill onto the parish road system and cause a substantial road safety issue. Causing obstacles and blocking visibility from other properties,’ she said.
‘The road which passes the site is very tight but has a 40mph speed limit. Visibility lines therefore should be 72m in both directions. The visibility that is currently provided from the site falls dramatically short of this, at less than five metres in each direction,’ she added.
The transport arm of the Infrastructure, Housing and Environment Department said that it did not object to or support the proposals, as access to the site was ‘remote to the strategic road network’ and therefore ‘advice should be taken from the parish with regard to its suitability’.
