The scheme – one of the biggest single developments ever seen in town – will lead to 144 apartments and a 122-bedroom Premier Inn being built in Bath Street and the surrounding area.
Developers Le Masurier say the project will give a much-needed boost to the north of town and create at least 105 new jobs in both construction and hospitality.
Commenting on the news that the project can now begin, St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft said: ‘I am delighted. It is a scheme that has been supported by the parish and will be a catalyst for the regeneration of the area. It will add connectivity for pedestrians and put a brownfield site in the heart of town to much better use. The hotel will be enormously useful and will bring tourists into the shops and
restaurants.’
In October, following a tense Planning Committee meeting involving environmentalists, heritage campaigners and representatives for Le Masurier, the project was given the go-ahead, with construction earmarked to begin in January.
But celebrations for those behind the project were quickly cut short after it was announced that a third-party planning appeal had been lodged – forcing it to be put before a UK planning inspector who could have ultimately recommended the scheme be rejected.
At the time, Brian McCarthy, managing director of Le Masurier, said he was ‘frustrated’ by the appeal lodged by a ‘minority voice’, adding that it would cost the taxpayer money.
However, speaking to the JEP this week, Mr McCarthy confirmed the appeal had been withdrawn before the scheme had been put to the inspector and that construction would start next month. The construction project is expected to take two years.
‘We have had notice that the appeal has been withdrawn, which for us means that it is now business as usual and redevelopment should begin next year. We are now determined to crack on with this.’
According to developers, if everything goes to plan, the first guests could be checking into the Island’s newest Premier Inn in 2021. The 144 apartments are expected to be completed in 2022.
A new pedestrian link between the Millennium Town Park and Halkett Place is also due to be created, along with new retail units and a restaurant.
