Music academy seeks expansion

Thursday 24 June 2021

The Jersey Academy of Music wants to reclaim part of its HQ previously used as a gym to create new teaching spaces for dance, musical theatre and drama, after a bid to turn the space into a 'forest school' was rejected.

The school currently occupies the ground, first and second floor of Chateau Vermont on Le Mont Sohier, whilst the lower-ground floor was used as a gym and wellness centre providing fitness classes, beauty treatments and swimming at the on-site pool facility until summer 2019.

Originally built as a private house, Chateau Vermont has had different uses over the years.

Plans to turn the home into the music academy were approved in December 2008. In the years prior to that, other plans to turn into a retirement home and a hotel had also been approved but never implemented.

In May 2011, the lower floor, which included a recital space capable of hosting 100 people, was turned into a spa.

Pictured: The plans would enable the Academy to create new teaching spaces and a music room.

The latest plans, submitted for Planning approval by Guardian Nursing services Ltd, now seek to “reunite” the lower-ground floor with the rest of the property to allow it to have a single use and go back to being “a cohesive unit”.

It is proposed the pool would be covered up to create extra space for the Jersey Academy of Music, enabling it to expand its schooling capabilities and offer a wider range of classes to students.

The Design Statement adds that, if approved, the changes would allow the Academy to work with Jodie Lee Performing Arts and Love Theatre, as it would enable the site to accommodate dance, musical theatre, singing and drama. “The proposal enhances all businesses involved, creating a community with a common purpose,” it is noted.

Page Architects add that the new space would also enable students to maintain social distancing when at the Academy.

“Our proposal, submitted on behalf of our client is proposed to aid in providing the students of Jersey’s Academy of Music with the opportunity to practice all genres and activities on site, while maintaining safe with social distancing measures,” they wrote.

The architects highlighted that the plans will not affect the look of the site as no new structures are proposed, simply the “repurposing” of existing spaces.

Earlier this year, plans to turn the Greenhouse Spa and Fitness Gym into a “nursery forest school” were rejected following an appeal. 

Guardian Services Ltd had hoped the nursery would ’tie-in’ the surrounding forest and welcome around 70 children aged five and under.

Planning permission was granted, but neighbours appealed the decision on the basis that the changes would lead to an increase in the intensity of use.

A Planning Inspector concluded the plans would result in “organised regular and more frequent use of the woodland for activities unrelated to woodland management”, noting they would lead to a “material change” in the use of the land.  

He therefore concluded the proposals didn’t meet the requirements of the Island Plan and that planning permission should be refused - a conclusion which the Minister eventually agreed with.