PLANS to build a three-bedroom house on the site of a former pumping station in Gorey have been rejected by the Planning Committee amid concerns about the property’s visual impact and a lack of parking.
Politicians voted by three to zero to go against the recommendation of planning officers and rejected the application by MS Planning, on behalf of Ray Hine and Julie Jackson, the prospective occupants of the home.
In his report, case officer Lawrence Davies said the proposed house complied with required standards within the built-up area of Mont du Gouray, including the Green Backdrop Zone adjacent to the site.
An earlier scheme incorporating two parking spaces had been withdrawn as a result of concerns over its impact on the road and an adjacent bus stop, but the new scheme – with no car parking – was not considered problematic in the light of the government’s objective to reduce private car use, he added.
The application attracted 31 letters of objection, with several residents, as well as St Martin Constable Karen Shenton-Stone, taking the opportunity to address the committee about the reasons for their opposition.
Mrs Shenton-Stone said she was worried about the potential for adjoining properties, as well as historic granite steps and a wall owned by the parish, to be damaged by the project, while Alastair Syvret said the house was 400 metres from the main bus route and a mile from the nearest supermarket.
“It’s utterly ridiculous to think that members of a family will not have a car and all ride bicycles if they’ve paid £1.5 million for a property,” he said.
Mr Hine said he had lived in the area since 2008 and admitted the proposals for the site had involved a “convoluted journey” dating back to 2016.
The proposals had been modified in the light of previous objections, he added, leaving a “modest and comfortable three-bedroomed home for the future” that complied with policy and heritage guidelines.
Committee chairman Constable Philip Le Sueur said he was concerned that the house only had windows facing in one direction, which could impact the health and wellbeing of residents, and also spoke of the negative impact on public views from the top of the parish steps.
Committee member Deputy Mary Le Hegarat said there was “a huge problem” with parking and strongly disagreed with the suggestion the property would be sustainable without parking spaces, given the infrequency of buses on Mont du Gouray, and the lack of a supermarket within easy walking distance.
Deputy Andy Howell said that although she liked the design of the house, the cramped nature of the plot meant the scheme was “like putting a quart into a pint pot”.
With Deputy Steve Luce, who represents St Martin and Grouville, having excused himself from the discussion, the three participating members all voted to reject the application.
