A VEHICLE workshop in St Lawrence could be turned into a pet and horse cremation business, if planning proposals are approved.
Willow Tree Limited, Jersey’s only individual cremation service for horses, has applied to change the use of Millbrook Depot, situated on Le Chemin Des Moulins.
The building is one of a “cluster” owned by and historically associated with Jersey Water.
The planning application describes the workshop as “redundant”, as, following a restructuring of the Jersey Water portfolio this year, the facilities have been decommissioned and it now sits empty.
Plans outline that the existing structure of the mid-20th century would be retained, keeping the “visual balance” of the building.
The existing oil burner and flue would be replaced with two cremation machines and taller external flues with secondary filtration and cleansing systems, to ensure emissions are odourless and smokefree.
Supporting documents add that flues will be coloured mid-grey to “reduce visual contrast” and would be placed “as far as possible” from a nearby listed building, which is separate from the application site.
Supporting documents argue that the proposed taller flues will be inkeeping with the “original operational use” of the buildings, which had tall chimneys powering the old Pumphouse.
The proposals will maintain the “light industrial use” of the building and have no impact on surrounding buildings.
Supporting documents state: “While enlarged flues are proposed, their relocation as far away from the listed building and height below the level of the historic building ridge level reduce their impact and their careful colouring mitigates the potential for visual harm.
“The proposed change of use of the Workshop will provide a sensitive enhancement to the building and is considered appropriate to the setting and maintains the building hierarchy of the industrial site”.
