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Jersey’s largest privately owned developer is today appealing against a rejection of its plans for a £120m redevelopment in the heart of town, including building 238 flats and a 103-bed apart-hotel.
Le Masurier is making its case to an independent planning inspector as to why the family-owned firm should be allowed to demolish 31-41 Broad Street and 19-29 Commercial Street, and replace the two-acre block with 137 one-bedroom, 96 two-bedroom and five three-bedroom units.
The scheme would also include a public central courtyard slightly smaller than the Royal Square, a walkway from Broad Street through to Commercial Street, and the hotel, which would be run as a ‘Wilde Aparthotel’ by international group Staycity.
However, plans for ‘Les Sablons’ – as Le Masurier has branded the development – were unanimously rejected by the Planning Committee last December, who agreed with the recommendation of the Planning Department that the proposed scheme was too high, especially on the Commercial Street side.
Video: Drone footage of the site, and the original vision for the completed Le Sablons development.
If approved as it stands, the development will be five storeys on the Broad Street side, with the top storey set back by 5.3m.
Planning’s principal concern, however, is the Commercial Street side, which will rise to eight storeys plus a 2.5m ninth storey of service plant.
The department argues that the 29.3m of height on this side, where the apart-hotel will be built, is too high and will adversely affect the character of the area and views over town, particularly from Fort Regent.
Le Masurier, however, argue that the refusal on this ground was unreasonable, maintaining that the built form “is not considered to be visually incongruous nor out of keeping with the prevailing scale of this locality.”
The company also argue that other grounds of the December refusal are unjustified, including the Committee and Planning’s conclusion that flats in lower storeys won’t get enough daylight.
Le Masurier argue that it cannot reduce the height of the development because it would make the scheme unviable.
The appeal is being heard by inspector Philip Staddon, who will also be chairing a planning inquiry next month into plans to redevelop the Waterfront.
His guide will be the Bridging Island Plan, which was passed by the States Assembly last year and defines the polices against which all planning decisions are made.
Last year, Mr Staddon also led an inquiry into the Our Hospital plans, which he recommended for approval.
After hearing evidence today, Mr Staddon will make a recommendation to Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf, who will ultimately decide if the appeal is upheld or rejected.
At the time the plans were launched, Express spoke to Le Masurier Managing Director Brian McCarthy about the vision for Les Sablons and the wider regeneration of St. Helier...
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