MAJOR plans for hundreds of apartments and tourist accommodation in St Helier have finally been given the go-ahead – just weeks after being blocked by an assistant minister.
Developers Le Masurier were today given permission to press ahead with their Les Sablons development, which will see 238 apartments and a 103-room aparthotel built between Broad Street and Commercial Street.
The approval was given in a ministerial decision by Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet.
The move brings to an end a long planning process in which the application was initially refused by the Planning Committee – a panel of politicians – last December.
Le Masurier appealed against the decision, making its case to an independent planning inspector who ultimately recommended that the appeal should succeed.
But in a surprise and controversial move Assistant Environment Minister Hilary Jeune rejected the appeal – drawing criticism from Chief Minister Kristina Moore, who said she was “extremely disappointed” in the decision.
In another twist earlier this month which effectively signalled that the plans would be given the go-head, the government announced that ministers would not be contesting the appeal and that the decision would be given “further consideration”.
In a statement today, it was announced that Deputy Binet, who had been appointed to make the final decision, had “considered the appeal papers, Island Plan policies, supplementary planning guidance and the Planning Inspector’s reports” and was approving the plans.
He said: “I have accepted and agreed with the findings, recommendations and reasoning of the Planning Inspector and see no reason not to grant approval based on the evidence outlined to me.”
In a statement, Brian McCarthy, managing director of Le Masurier, said that the Les Sablons scheme had “been worth fighting for” and would be a “real success story for Jersey”.
He added: “We are obviously delighted with the minister’s decision to approve Les Sablons.
“It has been a challenging journey spanning many years, as we have gone through this complex and costly process, but we believe that Les Sablons is worth fighting for.
“Our decision to challenge what I believe is a fundamentally broken planning system has paid off.
“I would like to sincerely thank the local community and all those who have supported our vision for Les Sablons for their overwhelming support throughout this process.
“I believe that this is a real success story for Jersey and a positive development for St Helier and our Island, as it will deliver the regeneration of over 2½ acres of the centre of town, providing a host of social and economic benefits through tourism, regeneration, housing, leisure, employment, pedestrianised connectivity and placemaking.”
