Planning approve 152 new homes

Plans for 152 new homes in St Helier have been approved by Jersey’s Planning Minister.

 

At a Ministerial Planning Meeting today, Deputy Rob Duhamel agreed outline or ‘in principle’ plans to construct 65 homes in an apartment block on the current ambulance station site, and a further 87 houses and apartments on the old Sumerland factory site beside it.

 

The plans propose the development of two apartment blocks; a larger L-shaped block which faces Le Rouge Bouillon and a smaller block behind it. The building will be up to five storeys in height. In addition to the main apartment blocks, the scheme also proposes a row of three-storey townhouses with roof terraces.

 

The Sumerland and ambulance station sites are important for the strategic provision of housing in Jersey. The Island Plan required that the States provide 150 affordable homes within two years of its approval. Today’s decision meets that target (152 units) within the timescale.

 

Deputy Duhamel commented "This is an important step forward for affordable housing provision in Jersey.  I look forward to working with the applicant on the details of this scheme to deliver first class residential opportunities for Islanders."

 

The approval is in outline only, with several matters of design to be resolved at the detailed stage.  In particular the Minister was keen to ensure the delivery of quality affordable housing units (through the Housing Gateway) through a legal agreement to be attached to the two permissions. He also wanted the concerns of residents regarding loss of privacy to be examined.