Government of Jersey

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A decision made (26/09/2008) regarding: List as Site of Special Interest - St. Matthews Convent, St. Mary.

Decision Ref:	MD–PE–2008-0014
Subject:	List as a Site of Special Interest St Matthews Convent, Rue Bechervais, St Mary
Decision Summary Title:	DS - List as a Site of Special Interest St Matthews Convent, Rue Bechervais, St Mary
DS Author:	Kevin Pilley – Assistant Director
DS Date:	16 September 2008	DS Status:	Public
Written Report Title:	WR – List as a Site of Special Interest St Matthews Convent, Rue Bechervais, St Mary
WR Author:	Kevin Pilley – Assistant Director
WR Date	16 September 2008	WR Status:	Public
Oral Rapporteur:	Kevin Pilley – Assistant Director/ Roger Hills – Head of Historic Buildings (Jersey Heritage)
Decision(s):	The Minister for Planning and Environment determined that St Matthews Convent, Rue Bechervais, St Mary be added to the List of Sites of Special Interest
Reason(s) for Decision:	The special interest of St Matthews Convent, Rue Bechervais, St Mary, as defined and in the schedule and relative to the published criteria for selection, justifies its inclusion on the List of Sites of Special Interest in accordance with the provisions and purposes of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 and; it accords with the States Strategic Plan commitment of protecting and sympathetically managing the Island’s built heritage assets.
Legal and Resource Implications:	Article 51(2)(b) of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 enables the Minister to include on the List of Sites of Special Interest those buildings and places that the Minister is satisfied has public importance by reason of the special archaeological, architectural, artistic, historical, scientific or traditional interest that attached to the building or place.
Action required:	Notify the owner Update the List of Sites of Special Interest Notify Development Control
Signature:
Position:	Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different to Date Signed):

List as Site of Special Interest - St. Matthews Convent, St. Mary.

Item No:
		Date:

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

List as Sites of Special Interest

St Matthews Convent, Rue Bechervaise, St Mary;

Church of St Matthew, La Rue de la Ville au Bas, St Peter;

Church of the Sacred Heart, St Brelade;

Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation and the Martyrs of Japan, St Martin;

Church of St Thomas, St Helier

Purpose of the Report

This report seeks to confirm the listing of the above five properties as Sites of Special Interest.

Background

The JHT report(s) and recommendations dated 21 August 2007 were put before the Minister on 28 September 2007 when, subject to clarification regarding the exclusion of the highway between St Matthews Convent and Church, he authorised the service of Notices of Intent to List all five properties as Sites of Special Interest. Those Notices were served on 19 October 2007.

Discussion

The Roman Catholic Church through the Diocese of Portsmouth own the properties and a letter was received from Reverend Stephen Morgan (Financial Secretary) on 23 October 2007 asking for an extension to the 28 day period for receipt representations. This was agreed, and a further letter from Reverend Morgan (Secretary to the Trustees) was received dated10 December 2007. This second letter raised objection to the listing of all the properties on six grounds collectively.

None of the grounds put forward provide any additional evidence in relation to the merits or demerits of any particular property in relation to the published criteria for selection which might require further consideration of the original JHT recommendation(s) and Ministerial intent. Copies of both letters are attached (at appendix 1 and 2) but in very brief summary, the points raised refer to –

Criticism of the ownership and financial regime for Anglican churches in Jersey relative to those of the Roman Catholic Church.
Comment on the lack of grants here for listed buildings and the lack of VAT relief.
Criticism of the planning process here.
Reference to the English Ecclesiastical Exemption Order.
Queries relating to the extent of protection.
Reference to the problems brought by buildings being listed.

A response to the letter has been sent providing clarification where possible and appropriate (at appendix 3).

Conclusions

As the representation raises no evidence relevant to the consideration of the properties in relation to the criteria for selection there is considered to be no material reason to alter the proposal to add these properties to the List of Sites of Special Interest.

Recommendation

That St Matthews Convent, Rue Bechervaise, St Mary; Church of St Matthew, La Rue de la Ville au Bas, St Peter; Church of the Sacred Heart, St Brelade; Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation and the Martyrs of Japan, St Martin; Church of St Thomas, St Helier be added to the List of Sites of Special Interest subject to the exclusion of the highway between St Matthews convent and Church as noted and amended in the relevant schedule.

Reason(s) for Decision

The special interest of St Matthews Convent, Rue Bechervaise, St Mary; Church of St Matthew, La Rue de la Ville au Bas, St Peter; Church of the Sacred Heart, St Brelade; Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation and the Martyrs of Japan, St Martin; Church of St Thomas, St Helier, as defined and assessed relative to the published criteria for selection justifies their inclusion on the List of Sites of Special Interest in accordance with the provisions and purposes of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002, and the States Strategic Plan.

Action Required

Update the List
Notify the owner
Notify DC

Written by:	Janet Dore: Principal Historic Buildings Advisor

Approved by:	Kevin Pilley: Assistant Director

Appendices

Correspondence dated 23 October 2007;
Correspondence dated 10 December 2007;
Correspondence dated 19 December 2007

File ref HE0489; MY0001; PE0249; BR0342; MN0217

Date 07/01/2008

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