45 more homes to be built on St Clement lane

Friday 24 June 2016

Despite the passionate pleas of a group of local residents, planning permission has been given for 45 new homes in La Rue du Hocq in St Clement.

Disappointed residents told the Bailiwick Express they did not feel the committee had considered their concerns at all, at yesterday's meeting. Six people spoke in objection to the plans, including Constable Len Norman, with most citing serious concerns about traffic on the narrow lane in St Clement, but drainage issues and the protection of local bats were also raised.

These concerns echoed 34 letters of objection which were submitted to Planning in relation to the development.

Access to the new estate, which will include 102 parking places, will be made from the narrowest part of Rue du Hocq, which Mr Norman pointed out, is on a bend and is the only point in the road where passing cars can move aside for one another.

Objector Sarah Harrison said traffic on the lane – which runs two ways with a 30 mph speed limit – is already dangerous and she struggles when walking with her four-year-old twins. “There is not enough room to hold hands and walk safely as it is,” she said.

Many of the objectors seemed resigned to the idea that the site – which has been zoned for housing since the 1980s – would be developed but felt that the number of units in the plan simply exceeded that with which the area can cope.

Les Arches Farm resident Rachael Sale “strongly requested” that the committee consider reducing the number of dwellings.

“Despite the measures proposed by the developer to mitigate the access point, we remain concerned on this, noting that considerable care is currently required whilst in a vehicle leaving Les Arches Farm to pass safely a walking pedestrian - who is standing well in, against a wall - either turning to go to the Coast or Inner Road,” she said.

“The lane is used daily by parents with toddlers in prams, cyclists, children, dog walkers and horse riders. We do not believe that the lane can support the additional traffic that will be needed to build this large development let alone support the increased number of users.”

Mr Norman said, that even if it was determined by Highways that Rue du Hocq could handle the increased traffic, the Inner Road and Coast Road cannot. “It makes it worse that they will all be going at the same time, at peak time,” he said.

St Clement’s is the Island’s smallest parish and second only to St Helier in residential density.

Defending the project, David Whalley of Grange Properties, said the density will be far less than what might have been allowed under Planning standards. “We haven’t gone on a cramming exercise,” he said, adding that they are developing a brownfield site.

Architect Bob Godel said as many as 74 units might have been allowed but development is proceeding with 45 on the three-acre site, which will also include communal areas and green space.

He said he understood the traffic concerns but “there is no alternative." Rue du Hocq is the only possible access point for the development.

Planning Applications Committee members unanimously voted to allow Grange Developments to build 11 one-bedroom units, 12 two-bedroom units, 8 three-bedroom units, 12 four-bedroom units and to convert and existing garage into a one-bedroom unit.

The decision drew loud sighs of frustration from the opposing residents.

“I am much more than disappointed,” Ms Sale told the Bailiwick Express. She said her property will now be totally engulfed by the new estate. 

Committee Chair, Constable Juliet Gallichan of St Mary, said she shared the residents’ concerns about the increase in traffic to the lane “but we know that housing has to be constructed."

She voted in favour as did the other committee members – Deputy Graham Truscott, Deputy Richard Rondel, Deputy Russell Labey and Constable Philip Le Sueur.