PART of Eagle House could be converted into 26 new apartments, if plans are approved.
The planning application would see existing upstairs offices changed, while retaining the current ground-floor retail units where the Youth Service is based.
If approved, the extension and conversion of Eagle House – which makes the corner of Don Road and Colomberie – would include 17 one-bed flats, eight two-bed flats, one three-bed flat, and a cycle store.
A statement submitted by MS Planning on behalf of the Palladium Group explains that the proposals ‘are for the adaptation of the existing building to avoid waste and provide a new life for the structure’.
Comments made as part of the application say the proposed development aims to take advantage of Eagle House’s location in a ‘vibrant part of St Helier town centre’ and, as such, plans do not include any car parking.
Instead, there are proposals for a cycle hub to utilise ‘the opportunity for active travel and pedestrian links to the heart of St Helier, just 300m away’.
The planning statement adds that ‘every opportunity has been taken to ensure the accommodation is well-specified, larger than the usual standards, and takes advantage of other attributes of the building, such as high ceilings’.
The development would also include solar photovoltaic panels – which convert thermal energy into electricity – on the roof. The planning statement says these would be ‘likely to provide sufficient power for all the common parts and services in the building’.
MS Planning added that ‘the delivery of new residents into La Colomberie will also add to the vitality and viability of the area, supporting commercial activity’.
The planning statement explains that the applicant undertook a community engagement exercise, which included an exhibition at the Town Hall in January, in advance of submitting the proposals.
The exhibition was promoted by a letter-drop of approximately 60 letters to the surrounding area to inform neighbours of the Town Hall exhibition and make them aware of a Facebook page where the same exhibition boards were available to review and comments could be left.
However, there were no attendees at the Town Hall event and no comments were left on the Facebook page.
