26-30 La Colomberie: Refusal of planning permission

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A decision made on 28 March 2012:

Decision Reference: MD-PE-2012-0026			Application Number: P/2011/0861 (If applicable)
Decision Summary Title :	26 - 30, La Colomberie, St. Helier		Date of Decision Summary:		27 March 2012
Decision Summary Author:	Principal Planner		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)		Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title :	P/2011/0861		Date of Written Report:		5 March 2012
Written Report Author:	Principal Planner		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)		Public
Subject: , 26 - 30, La Colomberie, , St. Helier, , Demolish existing commercial buildings. Construct six storey building comprising of basement parking, storage, ground floor retail, 12 No. apartments and 4 No. dwellings. Model Available.
Decision(s): At the public Ministerial Meeting of 13 March 2012 the Minister considered the Department Report, and heard from the agent for the applicant, and objectors to the application. The Minister indicated that he was minded to refuse the application, expressing his concerns that the application was over-development of the site, the design of the top floors was inappropriate, there was insufficient amenity space and potentially detrimental impacts on the neighbours at Colomberie Court. The Minister deferred his formal decision until he had undertaken a site visit. The Minister undertook the site visit on 19 March 2012, accompanied by an Officer, and was joined on site by the agent for the applicant, and 3 local residents. Having considered the policies of the Jersey Island Plan and all material considerations, on 26th March 2012 the Minister decided to REFUSE the application, for the reasons set out below.
Reason(s) for Decision: 1. By reference to excessive height of the two storey pavillion structure at the upper levels on the corner of Grenville Street and La Colomberie the application is considered to be out of context with existing scale, massing and grain of the area. As such, the application is contrary to Policies GD1, GD7 and BE5 of the Jersey Island Plan 2011. 2. By reference to overtly contemporary design of the two storey pavillion structure at the upper levels on the corner of Grenville Street and La Colomberie, the application is considered to be inappropriate to the location and context, and harmful to the character of the area. As such, the application is contrary to Policies GD1, GD7 and BE5 of the Jersey Island Plan 2011. 3. By reference to apartments 5 to 14 (inclusive) the application fails to make adequate provision for the necessary quantum of amenity space as set out within PPN6 “A Minimum Specification for New Housing Developments” and as such the application is contrary to Policy H6 of the Jersey Island Plan 2011.
Resource Implications: None
Action required: Notify Agent, Applicant and all other interested parties
Signature: Deputy R C Duhamel		PLeg / AS Initials		Position: Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:				Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):