09 March 2015
Jersey’s Planning Minister, Deputy Steve Luce, has approved the development of up to 285 homes and associated facilities and parking on the Jersey Gas site on Tunnell Street.
Jersey Gas Company applied to demolish the existing gas works and associated office, showroom and staff accommodation, and to construct a new residential development. The development will comprise one-, two- and three-bed dwellings and associated residential facilities, commercial units, semi-basement parking, ancillary areas, landscaping amenities and public realm improvements.
Redevelopment to bring benefits
It is considered that the redevelopment of the site will offer important benefits in the regeneration of the area by repairing the townscape, improving the vitality and viability of the town and providing much needed housing and public realm and landscape improvement to the area.
Deputy Luce considered the planning application at a ministerial meeting on 6 February 2015. He deferred the application in order to attend the site to view the potential development from inside neighbouring properties and the surrounding area and to consider public comment in relation to the application. Following this site visit, the Minister provided the applicant with the opportunity to amend the scheme, and amended plans were submitted to the department on 27 February 2015. The changes to the development respond to the concerns expressed by objectors.
Development Control Director, Peter Le Gresley, said “The Minister has carefully considered the amended plans and all representations received, assessed the development against the States-approved Island Plan, the North Town Masterplan and the planning guidance for the Jersey Gas site, and on balance has decided to approve the application.”
Planning approval has been given subject to the satisfactory completion of a Planning Obligation Agreement (POA) to contribute to a cycle link to Belmont Road, a bus shelter and 30 public parking spaces on the site. The development must also be further set back from Tunnell Street.
The decision acknowledges the concerns expressed, particularly in relation to the highways and parking issues and regarding the impact on neighbours. These have been weighed against the benefits delivered by the development. It is considered that, taken as a whole, the application will deliver vibrant housing within the centre of the town and also removes a potentially hazardous commercial use from the site.
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