List as Site of Special Interest: Furze Cottage, St John.

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A decision made (01/12/2006) regarding List as Site of Special Interest: Furze Cottage, St John.

Subject:	List as Site of Special Interest: Furze Cottage, St John
Decision reference:	MD-PE-2006-0225	Exempt clause(s):		Attachment: 3.2.1(b)
Type of report (oral or written):	Oral and written	Report file ref:		JN0181
Person giving report (if oral): Assistant Director (Policy and Projects)
Written report – author: Assistant Director (Policy and Projects)
Written Report Title: List as Site of Special Interest: Furze Cottage, St John
Decision(s): The Minister for Planning and Environment approved the Listing of Furze Cottage, St John, as defined by the associated schedule, as a Site of Special Interest under the provisions of Article 51(2)(b) Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 by virtue of its special architectural and historical interest only as described in the same schedule
Reason(s) for decision: The special interest of Furze Cottage, St John, as defined and assessed 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. The proposal accords with the States Strategic Plan commitment of protecting and sympathetically managing our built heritage assets.
Action required: Update the Register Notify the land owner of the Minister’s decision
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision: 1 December 2006

List as Site of Special Interest: Furze Cottage, St John.

		Item No:
		Date:

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

List as Site of Special Interest

Furze Cottage, St John

Purpose of the Report

The purpose of this report is for the Minister to consider the Listing of Furze Cottage, St John as a Site of Special Interest under the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 in light of representations received.

Background

On the basis of its special interest, Furze Cottage was added to the Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Historical and Archaeological Importance in Jersey as a proposed Site of Special Interest by the Minister for Planning and Environment on 13 March 2006. A decision was subsequently taken to commence formal designation procedures as an SSI with the Minister’s decision to serve a Notice of Intention to List the site on 01 August 2006.

The property has recently been sold and is the subject of development proposals. As a result of the special interest of the building, and in particular the interior which essentially remained without formal protection whilst the Listing process was in process, the decision was taken by officers, under the auspices of powers delegated to them by the Minister, to provisionally include Furze Cottage on the List of SSIs, thereby effecting its immediate protection. Accordingly, a notice was served on the owner of the building and the site on 23 October under the auspices of Article 53 of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 to provisionally add the site to the List of SSIs.

The process of provisionally Listing a site provides the owner with 28 days to make representations. In this case, one representation has been received (attached at appendix 1).

Discussion

The representation does not seek to challenge the formal designation of the site as an SSI but seeks to challenge the extent of the site’s special interest. In particular, it is suggested that the archaeological interest of the site has not been sufficiently justified relative to the requirements of the Law, and that this aspect of the site’s special interest should be withdrawn.

The Jersey Heritage Trust has, under the terms of the Service Level Agreement, been consulted on this matter, the response to which it attached at appendix 2. In essence, the Trust is of the view that whilst of some potential archaeological interest, the case for SSI designation on this basis alone is not strong and that the primary special interests of the building relate more to architecture and history.

Recommendation

On the basis of the above, and with reference to the papers attached, the Minister for Planning and Environment is recommended to confirm the Listing of Furze Cottage, St John, as defined by the attached description and on the attached plan, as a Site of Special Interest under the provisions of Article 51(2)(b) Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 by virtue of it’s special architectural and historical interest only as described in the same schedule.

Reason(s) for Decision

The special interest of Furze Cottage, St John, as defined and assessed 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.

The proposal accords with the States Strategic Plan commitment of protecting and sympathetically managing our built heritage assets.

Action Required

1. Update the Register

2. Notify the land owner of the Minister’s decision

Written by:	Kevin Pilley Assistant Director: Planning and Building Services
Endorsed by:	Janet Dore Principal Historic Buildings Advisor

Attachments:

Appendix 1: Representation from MS Planning dated 20 November 2006 on behalf of the owner (Exempt 3.2.1(b))

Appendix 2: Advice of JHT (email dated 23 November 2006)

Appendix 3: Schedule

JN0181

23 November 2006