THE development of more than 230 homes and an “aparthotel” in the centre of town could be in jeopardy owing to a rule which requires that 15% of its homes are “affordable” for Islanders, States Members have been told.
Developers Le Masurier risked making “no economic profit” if made to abide to the rule, Deputy Max Andrews said at yesterday’s sitting.
He asked Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham whether the requirement could be reduced to allow the Les Sablons development in Broad Street to go ahead.
However, the project will remain in limbo until the Housing Minister returns from a conference in St Helena and resumes talks with the developer, the Chief Minister said.
The much-discussed development includes 238 apartments and a 103-room “aparthotel” built on 2½ acres between Broad Street and Commercial Street.
The application was initially refused by the Planning Committee – a panel of politicians – in December 2022. 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 controversial move Assistant Environment Minister Hilary Jeune rejected the appeal.
Her rejection was eventually quashed, as the government announced that ministers would not contest the appeal.
In January, Le Masurier managing director Brian McCarthy said that the cost of the scheme had risen significantly while they waited for a decision.
He added that there was no start date for construction of the Les Sablons development – and that timescales needed to be “reassessed” following the recent approval of the plans.
Speaking yesterday, the Chief Minister said that Le Masurier contacted the government at the end of April to notify them of the situation.
Deputy Farnham said discussions with the developer to resolve the matter were a “high priority” for Housing Minister Sam Mézec when he returns from his trip to St Helena for the British Islands and Mediterranean Region Conference.
Deputy Farnham said: “The Housing Minister is due back imminently, and this matter will be dealt with in acceptable time.”
He said he would not use his executive powers to deal with the issue in Deputy Mézec’s absence, adding: “The Housing Minister would like to discuss further with developers, with a view to reaching a common position on the mix of types of residential.
“I shall be urging him to work swiftly with this, so that we don’t jeopardise the development, to provide a solution or a good compromise as soon as possible.
“I have full confidence in the Housing Minister that an agreement will be reached, and I very much hope the development can start as soon as possible.”
Environment Minister Steve Luce, who was also asked about the project by Deputy Andrews, said that discussions had been taking place inside and outside his department about Les Sablons.
He said: “Obviously, the site is of huge importance and significance to St Helier. The plans contained a large number of units for housing which are vital, and also contained a hotel, which is vital to our tourist industry.
“I will do what I can to make sure the development on that site comes to fruition. The last thing we need there is for that to become a surface level car park for the next ten years.”
