Campaigners appalled at Environment Minister’s "alien monster"

Thursday 06 March 2014

Save Jersey’s Heritage have reacted angrily to a decision to demolish listed buildings on the Esplanade to make way for what they are calling “an alien monster”.

Deputy Rob Duhamel has given Dandara Jersey Ltd the go ahead to demolish 66-72 Esplanade, 60 Kensington Place and part of 14 Patriotic Street to create a six-storey office block.

The new scheme will see more than 17,000 square metres of Grade A office space with ground-floor parking. The listed façade of 14 Patriotic Street will be retained.

Christopher Scholefield from Save Jersey’s Heritage said: “I am appalled. First of all it’s not acceptable that the listed structures on the site are being sacrificed in this way. Secondly this ugly and incongruous building bears no relation to the planning department’s own publications about the kind of urban developments. It’s an alien monster, which is totally out of context.”

Deputy Duhamel had deferred the application at a meeting last month to further consider the design and to visit the site to view the potential development from neighbouring properties.

Planning’s Development Control Director Peter Le Gresley said: “The Minister carefully balanced the loss of the listed buildings with the provision of high-quality office accommodation and the impact on the neighbourhood.”