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Jersey’s largest privately-owned developer is appealing against the rejection of its £120m plans to build more than 230 homes and an ‘apart-hotel’ in the heart of St. Helier.
Last month, the Planning Committee refused an application from C Le Masurier to demolish the existing buildings 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 family-owned developer also plans to build a 103-room apartment-style hotel with ground-floor restaurant, café and shops.
The units would be built around a central courtyard and include a public walkway between the two streets.
However, the Planning Committee said that the Broad Street end of the development, which would retain the facades of two listed buildings, was “bland, uninspiring and a missed opportunity”.
The group of politicians was also concerned that flats on the Commercial Street side, particularly those lower down, would look out over the old Harbour Wall and not receive enough sunlight.
This week, Le Masurier Chief Executive Brian McCarthy confirmed that the firm had lodged an appeal against the committee’s decision rejecting ‘Les Sablons’, which is the name of its scheme.
The grounds of the appeal include that the plans are not “visually incongruous nor out of keeping with the prevailing scale in this locality”.
Pictured: The plans include building on a private car-park off Commercial Street. (Google Maps)
Also, “the design, layout and orientation will not result in unacceptable living conditions for future occupiers by reference to inadequate daylight and sunlight”.
The applicant also maintains that the committee’s decision contained “numerous and significant omissions”.
The plans are supported by the Constable of St. Helier. Simon Crowcroft told the committee at its hearing last month that the scheme would rejuvenate a large area of town.
The applicant already has permission, granted in 2011 and subsequently updated, to demolish the existing buildings and build a six-storey building comprising retail units and offices.
The company has already started development on this application by commencing demolition.
It initially told Planning that it could fall back on this approved office development, should its Les Sablons plans be refused - however, the firm later confirmed that it was not its intention to proceed with that scheme.
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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