19 January 2006
Tall Buildings on the Waterfront
A new report on tall buildings on Jersey’s Waterfront is being published today (Monday January 16). The Report has been written by Sandover Associates, recommended by CABE (The Council for Architecture and the Built Environment) who are champions of high quality design, architecture and planning. The report suggests that one elegantly designed building of up to 60 metres may be appropriate to provide an architectural icon and landmark.
This independent report, which was recently completed after being commissioned by the Planning and Environment Department in 2005, is being published in its entirety by the Minister for Planning, Senator Freddie Cohen. He hopes it will lead and inform the discussion on the future development of the Waterfront.
Senator Cohen said: “Sandover Associates are aware of all the issues and background to development on the Waterfront because, with CABE, they have already had involvement with the Waterfront in a review of schemes presented in 2005. I believe they will bring an important independent focus which will help to move the discussion forward.”
This will be the first of two Reports designed to provide Supplementary Planning Guidelines to support and expand upon existing policies in the Island Plan, written specifically to address:
- Tall Buildings
- The Waterfront Development Framework
The second report will be prepared by the Planning and Environment Department, and is expected to be released on 30 January. It will address matters such as design, material, open space, traffic, land use and environment issues.
Senator Cohen intends that, following a period of consultation and review, the reports will provide detailed advice and guidelines which will build on and refine existing policy. He said: “It is clear to me that the events of the last year have prompted important debate and questions about the future of the Waterfront. Three developers are currently preparing schemes and within a few months we expect to receive formal applications from them.”
The Minister believes that, given the importance of the Waterfront, the two reports should be the subject of full public consultation. Senator Cohen said: “We are striving to provide the highest quality of design on the Waterfront. It needs to reflect and recognise Jersey’s unique character and we need to accurately capture and assess the view of the public in considering the development of guidelines. We intend to refine the framework within which new development proposals will be judged and this must reflect the high aspirations we have for delivering new development on the Waterfront.
It is important that the Sandover report is considered in terms of the absolute heights of the buildings he suggests. In the case of the largest this would equate to a height of 60 metres”.
He said: “These reports should be regarded as drafts upon which the public and stakeholders are invited to comment. We will appoint an independent reviewer who will then analyse the public responses and feed them into the development of the final Waterfront Design Framework, which will be released in mid April. “
This is the timetable for the process of consultation:
| Jan 16
|
· Publication of Sandover Report on Tall Buildings · Consultation period begins
|
| Jan 30
|
· Publication of Draft Supplementary Planning Guidelines · Consultation period begins
|
| March 4
March 4 |
· Forum held for interest groups and members of the public to examine and discuss both documents · A week of open surgeries where the Chief Planning Officer and the Minister will be available to discuss the Framework (exact dates to be published)
|
| March 27
|
· Period of consultation ends |
| March 28 - 10 April |
· Independent commissioner analyses responses
|
| April 10 - 17 |
· Revise and review the draft Reports
|
| Mid April |
· Publish revised Waterfront Development Framework
|
Copies of the Sandover Report will be available from the Planning Department after 16 January. Invitations to the Forum will be issued to stakeholders within the next two weeks. There will be opportunities for members of the public to attend the Forum and they should make applications for tickets to the Planning Department at South Hill.
Please contact Senator Freddie Cohen or Peter Thorne on:
Tel: 601416
Mobile: 07797-714550 (Senator Cohen)
gov.je