16 December 2011
The Minister for Planning and Environment, Deputy Rob Duhamel, has approved the planning application for the J1 office development at the heart of St Helier.
The J1 scheme will be located between Broad Street and Commercial Street, and at over 260,000 square feet is believed to be the largest single development to be built in Jersey. The scheme proposes 6 floors of office accommodation, with a roof garden and terrace.
The Minister noted that the decision had been a difficult one, balancing a range of issues, including the loss of some historic buildings on the site. However, after weighing up all of the considerations, he concluded that the package of benefits delivered by the proposal clearly outweighed the disadvantages.
The Minister said “I believe that this is an important scheme, delivering both a significant quantity of office development and a welcome boost to the construction industry during this difficult economic time. The new building will be an exemplar of design excellence and environmentally responsible development.”
The Minister added that his Department had worked tirelessly with the applicants, Le Masurier Ltd, to negotiate a reduced scheme for him to consider and congratulated both teams. He added that he was particularly pleased to note that the applicant had agreed to submit a Green Travel Plan for the building and would also adopt a training and skills package for the construction phase.
Deputy Duhamel said “I am particularly pleased to note that Le Masurier Ltd have agreed to adopt a training scheme for local people. The need to supply opportunities for local job-seekers is one of the highest priorities for the Council of Ministers and the company’s commitment to helping us achieve that end is a very welcome one.”
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