'Bunker-like' St Brelade plans unanimously rejected

Friday 20 October 2017

Plans to redevelop the Wayside Café site in St Brelade's Bay have been unanimously rejected by the Planning Committee after they were criticised by neighbouring residents for being too big and bunker-like.

The plans included the replacement of the café by a two-storey building including a restaurant and an apartment above it, as well as the construction of two two-storey flat blocks.

Lawrence Davies, the planning officer in charge of the application, stated at the beginning of the hearing yesterday that there was no "unreasonable" relationship between the built-up setting and other properties around. He added that the high quality material proposed, which included local granite, were considered appropriate for a beachside location, and concluded he was satisfied that the proposed development could be justified.

About 20 members of the public attended the Planning Committee meeting. While there was a broad agreement that the site would benefit from re-development, seven of them spoke against the application to voice their concerns. Half of them pointed out that the proposed development went against the Environmental Development Plan for St Brelade from 1989, saying there was no sufficient justification to make any exception of the policy.

Some of the neighbours pointed that it was critical to protect the open space at this end of the bay. The proposed buildings were criticised for being bunker-like, and too massive for the area. Amanda Colley, who has been living in the bay for 34 years in a house that has been affected by previous developments, said: "Building German-looking bunkers next to an heritage site is extreme bad taste but also deeply hurtful for the people of Jersey."

Another neighbour, Peter Edwards, from the Longbeach Court Association, stated the development was not an improvement.

Pictured: The proposed site of the development. (Google Maps)

Others voiced concerns for the café which, under the proposed plans, would have seen the number of parking spaces available reduced from 50 to 16. Kate Henderson stated that customers wishing to eat at the Wayside would have to park further up La Route de la Base and would encounter a number of restaurants on the way there. "How many will bother walking all the way?," she stated. 

Senator Sarah Ferguson voiced concerns about Conway Tower, which dates back to 1789 and is located in the middle of the development. She said she feared what would happen to the Tower if building for another development was to be allowed around it, given the fact it didn't have good foundations. 

Michael Stein, Director of MS Planning, the developers, spoke in favour of the application explaining that the scheme had been reduced to address the concerns of neighbours.

He said the aims for the proposal was to revitalise an unused part of the bay and to turn it into a popular destination and heritage site. He also listed five key benefits: creating a public access to a currently privately-owned site as well as public access to the beachside and promenade; improving the setting and prominence of Conway Tower; the creation of a gap in the development creating a view to the sea; a more natural seaside landscape with restored dunes and the re-development of the restaurant and a much improved surf shop bringing activity and vibrancy to this part of the bay.

Pictured: The Wayside site

Ultimately, all four members of the Planning Committee agreed with the neighbours and rejected the application. Philip Le Sueur, Trinity's Constable,  said the scheme was very seductive but "...didn't go far enough to compensate the arguments in the build-up area." He added that the scale and mass of the buildings didn't seem proportionate to the site and that he had great concerns on the impact it would have on the view.

The news of the refusal was welcomed by local residents. Tina Ellis-Brekcnell, whose shop Fish N Beads would have had to move from its current location if plans had been approved, said: "I'm pleased that planning can recognise that the scale of some of the plans needs to be addressed, the size of some of the buildings is too big." 

Moz Scott, Chairman of the St Brelade's Bay Association thanked the members of the panel, "...for giving this matter a fair hearing despite obstacles." She added: "I would like to congratulate the residents of the Bay who have made wonderful presentations to keep the Bay as beautiful for everyone as we can."

Lead picture: St Brelade's Bay Association (SBBA)