Plans for 253 homes on Jersey Gas site approved

Thursday 23 March 2017

An application to build 253 residential units on the former Gas Works site has been approved by the Planning Committee.

The existing gas works and offices are set to be demolished to make room for the houses, separated in four blocks, as well as two commercial units and over 200 semi-basement parking spaces.

The original application included 297 homes but that's been reduced.  The height of the units has also been lowered in parts, and set back from the road, following feedback from local residents.  

As a condition to the application, £860,000 will also have to be provided for a public car park in St. Helier, which Jonathan Gladwin,who's the planning officer responsible for the application, told the Committee will likely be used in Ann Court.

However the improvements made to the application didn't satisfy all local residents. Paul Fox, who lives on Tunnel Street, voiced his concerns saying: "This is going to impact our quality of life and will cause a loss of privacy. Little has been done to prevent the issue of overlooking. Moving the building back by five meters seems more like a box ticking exercise. The development is out of character for the area ad it is not social or affordable housing, this is not what we need."

Ian McDonald, Director of Axis Mason, architects for the development, said: "We have had public consultations and we are very conscious about the concerns expressed by neighbours. We have tried to listen and adapt the scheme as far as reasonable." 

Three members of the Committee approved the plan with Deputy Graham Trustcott stating: "The Tunnel Street development has always been a concern of mine. I do believe the developers have done a lot to reduce the impact on the residents of the area." 

Deputy Jeremy Macon refused the application explaining that it hadn't come far enough. "It is a good way to address the housing although I am concerned about the design, I would like to see something more attractive than what is currently framed. However I base my decision on the impact this project would have on parking. I do not feel it has been addressed enough and therefore it is unbalanced." 

Deputy Russell Labey gave no determination explaining he was "conflicted" about the development.