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St. Helier could be set to get substantially greener if Andium Homes’ new plans for the Gas Works area get the go-ahead.
The States social housing provider purchased the Gas Works site in September last year, and is now hoping to give Millennium Park a considerable extension, taking it all the way up to St. Saviour’s Road, as well as creating housing and parking to cater for hundreds of islanders.
The area initially had approval for 253 homes, but residents in the area were not supportive of these.
In January, States Members voted to increase the size of the town park, as well as creating an underground carpark with over 150 spaces.
Pictured: Andium is hoping to transform the area of Gas Place.
Five alternative options were drafted, with politicians and members of the public invited to comment on them during consultation events in October this year.
Of the proposals, number five – where housing runs down the side of the park, leaving extra green space flowing all the way to the Animal Shelter on St. Saviour’s Road – secured the most support, 79% in total.
Andium confirmed this morning that architects are now working on gaining outline planning consent as soon as possible.
If the plans are approved, the town park will grow by as much as 5,480m2, running up the side of Tunnell Street to St. Saviour’s Road.
Pictured: The latest plans for the Gas Works area.
117 homes will be delivered on the north of the site, 106 resident parking spaces and 172 public spaces.
Simon Crowcroft, Constable of St Helier, commented: “I welcome Andium Homes' proposals to increase significantly the extent of the amenity space of our Millennium Town Park, as well as the provision of much needed public parking in the area. The reduction in the number of homes being provided on the site is also a great improvement on the original developer-led scheme for nearly 300 units, as it means the residents of the smaller number of new homes will enjoy much better facilities.”
Frank Walker OBE, Chairman for Andium Homes, said he was “delighted” with the option that had been chosen.
He added that the plans were “inter-dependent with our delivery of the Ann Court and Brewery sites, where we plan to deliver a mix of new homes and tenures, community and third sector facilities, pedestrian links, public realm and additional green spaces, all contributing to the regeneration of the North of Town”.
Pictured: Andium's Chairman said the project was meant to work alongside the Ann Court site development - work on which has recently been halted.
“These plans are aligned with the Council of Ministers proposed Common Strategic Policy commitments and the Island Plan,” he said.
But Andium is currently experiencing struggles in delivering that specific part of the vision after the Treasury Minister refused to sign off on a loan enabling them to start construction works on Ann Court amid rumours that the site is now being considered as a potential location for a new States headquarters.
They confirmed to Express last week that that they had hit "pause" on the project until the New Year.
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