Freemasons’ “overbearing” apartment development halted

Tuesday 12 June 2018

The home of Freemasonry in the island has had a planning application to convert part of their building into rental accommodation refused after protests from a “horrified” neighbour.

Members of the Jersey Masonic Temple had hoped to demolish a former caretaker’s lodge, replacing it with six flats – five one-bedroom and one two-bedroom – spread over up to four-storeys.

The historic temple was first erected at its Stopford Road site in 1864, designed by General Hospital and Royal Court architect Thomas Gallichan. But now, 154 years later, and following wear, tear and a looting during the war, parts of the building frequently require emergency attention. 

It was therefore hoped that renting out flats within the proposed £1.4million development, which was due to feature a £10k wall art installation, would not only plug the St. Helier housing gap, but provide much-needed funds to maintain the main building without having to “ambulance chase” works.

Pictured: Designs for the development. (Dyson and Buesnel Architects) 

But that plan didn’t find favour with a nearby resident, who said that the two-storey 1960s lodge block shouldn’t be changed, arguing that it would “blight” the “very attractive period properties” in the area by blocking out light to other homes.

“My husband and I, as well as many house owners in the area, were horrified at the sheer scale and height of this development, particularly in an area which consists of many period properties, the majority of which have been maintained with a great deal of love, hard work and constant maintenance to the highest standard,” the homeowner said.

She added that she was concerned over the possibility of traffic congestion in the area due to the building’s increased occupancy from around four to 14 people.

Her visual concerns were supported by the National Trust, who wrote to the Planning Department in objection to the “height and style of the proposed flats”, which they blasted as “detrimental to the streetscape.”

Pictured: The Masonic Temple lies on the corner of Stopford Road, meeting Oxford Road. (Google Maps)

While the Planning Department accepted the Masons’ application “in principle”, it was eventually refused.

In a report justifying the decision, Planning Officer Elizabeth Stables wrote: “The proposed structure… would result in shadowing and overlooking of neighbouring properties from windows and balconies…  The scale, mass and design of the proposed replacement building would be out of character and detrimental to the street scene in general and to other properties in close proximity, including the setting of the adjacent Listed buildings, by reason of overlooking, shadowing and an overbearing impact. It would therefore be contrary to [Planning policy and the Island Plan].”