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A decision made (28.06.07) to provisionally list 15 King Street, St. Helier as a Site of Special Interest.

Subject:	Provisionally List as SSI: 15 King Street, St. Helier
Decision ref:	MD-PE-2007-0158	Exempt clause(s):		None
Type of report:	Written and oral	Report file ref:		HE0302
Person giving report (if oral):
Written report – author: Janet Dore, Principal Historic Buildings Advisor
Written Report Title: 15 King Street (part of former Collins Building etc site) ; Note to Director of Planning – 27 June 2007
Decision(s): The Minister for Planning and Environment determined that a provisional SSI be served on the site to protect the archaeological evidence uncovered at 15 King Street during the course of implementing a development permission.
Reason(s) for decision: Excavation of this site, in the course of implementing a development permission, has revealed physical evidence to support research that suggests that this area may contain some early settlement of the town. Provisional protection of the site enables the significance of the evidence found to be assessed and a way forward determined.
Action required: · Place site notice · Advise owner, Architect and contractor · Advise development control · Update register
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision: 28 June 2007

15 King Street, St. Helier - provisionally listed as Site of Special Interest

15 King Street (part of former Collins building etc site)

Note to Director of Planning - 27 June 2007

Background

 This construction site covers 1 & 2 Vine Street and 15 & 17 King Street St Helier.

 Permits have been issued for redevelopment with some façade retention as follows – P/2004/0528 dated 17/01/05 and RP/2006/1106 dated 26/02/07.

 A condition attached to the original permit and carried over to the revised scheme requires archaeological recording of the site but does not specify what happens if anything is found, or what happens to the record.

 15 King Street is a BLI and was created thus on 1/08/92

 Recently we were informed of the discovery of a fireplace in 1 Vine Street (part of the same site) which had been photographed apparently by someone from the Societe who it appears entered the site without authorisation. JD visited the site at the invitation of the Architect and contractor and a further fireplace was noted at 1st floor in addition to the GF one. These have been retained and protected as a SSI relating to the party wall only to number 1 vine Street. This does not inhibit the continuation of the contract.

Note of visit today

 JD received a call from the Architect advising that MOLAS were on site recording and that a medieval wall had been discovered below GF level in the area where the permit allows for the excavation of a basement.

 JD went to site pm and met with the Architect and contractor and archaeologist. The location and level of the exposed wall(s) and the apparent surface which relates to them is located in such a position and at such a level that the excavation of a basement as per the permit will be impossible if the walls are required to be retained.

 The archaeologist is working on site until approx. end of Friday this week and is continuing with her excavation and recording in this area currently.

 I have instructed as follows –

 Archaeologist to continue work

 Contractor not to intervene

 No outside persons to enter site

 Any enquiries re archaeology to be directed to JD

 That I will advise Architect (John Leveridge of Axis Mason) this week of our position re the find – even if that advice = ‘don’t know yet’

 On returning to office I advised Peter Thorne of the situation as I felt that I was not in a position to make a decision and that in view of the way that the fireplace issue escalated I felt that this information needs to be managed at a higher level than.

 The options appear to be –

 Record and then excavate as per permit loosing the archaeology

 Stop the work

 Rescind the permit to save the archaeology (costs ?)

 Vary the permit to save the archaeology (costs ?)

 Something else

(NB – I am on a flexi day on Friday of this week – if necessary I can come in as I am only using flexi to stop it being lost – so will need to be able to claim the hours back as an exception to the scheme).

Janet Dore

Principal Historic Buildings Advisor

Direct dial : +44(0) 1534 448410

Email j.dore@gov.je