19 Wesley Street, St Helier: Review as Building of Local Interest

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made (09.02.2009) not to register 19 Wesley Street, St Helier, as a Building of Local Interest.

Decision Ref:	MD-PE-2009-0026
Subject:	Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey: 19 Wesley Street, St. Helier
Decision Summary Title:	DS - Review of 19 Wesley Street, St. Helier
DS Author:	Principal Historic Environment Officer
DS Date:	7th January 2009	DS Status:	Public
Written Report Title:	WR – Review of 19 Wesley Street, St. Helier
WR Author:	Head of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage
WR Date	28th November 2008	WR Status:	Public
Oral Rapporteur:	Head of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage
Decision(s):	The Minister for Planning and Environment determined his intention not to Register as Building of Local Interest19 Wesley Street, St. Helier.
Reason(s) for Decision:	The assessment of the heritage value of buildings allows the Minister to gauge their suitability to be Registered as Building of Local Interest in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings. In this case the building does not meet the assessment criteria and the Minister intends not to seek Registration.
Legal and Resource Implications:	The inclusion of buildings and places in the Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey is consistent with the purposes of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002.
Action required:	Serve Notice of Intent (Not to Register)
Signature:
Position:	Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different to Date Signed):

19 Wesley Street, St Helier: Review as Building of Local Interest

19 Wesley Street, St Helier

This report has been prepared by Jersey Heritage as part of its responsibility under a Service Level Agreement to provide reports and recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Environment on the architectural, historical and archaeological significance of buildings and sites.

The assessment and recommendation are made in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings. The report includes the views and advice offered by the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group.

Author of report: Roger Hills BA(Hons) MA DipBldgCons (RICS) IHBC Head of Historic Buildings

Date of report: 28 November 2008

File ref: HE9294

Current status

Unregistered; removed from the register by JBH Sub-Committee on 2 September 2002.

Relevant interests of the site

Historic interest

Warehouse appearing to date principally to late 19th / early 20th century with possible earlier origins. The Le Gros map shows a similarly proportioned building on the site in 1834 (next to the original Wesley Chapel) but it is not clear whether this relates in any way to the existing structure.

Architectural interest

The warehouse is 2-storey, 2-bay with a long rectangular plan form. The Wesley Street façade (perhaps re-faced) is of rock-faced granite of late C19 / early C20 style with pale dressed granite surrounds to a single window and single loading door opening at first floor level. The window is a 12-pane hornless sash of pre-1850 pattern. The ground floor is dominated by a large C20 vehicular opening with a steel lintel and darker granite dressings. The right hand quoins are also dressed with darker stonework at ground floor. The left hand corner has imitation cement ‘quoins’ apparently concealing a demolition line with a former neighbour – the presence of the demolished building evidenced by the scarring on the side wall. The remainder of the warehouse is constructed of rubble stonework. There is a late C19 / early C20 mansard roof.

Advice offered by MRLAG (and others if stated)

MRLAG discussed the site at its meeting on 24 November 2008. Members acknowledged that warehouses are of a building type that is becoming increasingly scarce in the town but were unanimous that No.19 is not of sufficient interest to merit re-registration.

Jersey Heritage recommendation

19 Wesley Street is not of sufficient interest to add to the Register.

Justification relating to criteria

· 19 Wesley Street is not considered significant for its architectural design, decoration, craftsmanship, composition or use of materials;

· The warehouse dates principally to c.1900 and is not considered to illustrate significant aspects of Jersey’s social, economic, cultural or military history.