TREASURY AND RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
PROPERTY HOLDINGS
Property Transaction for Ministerial Decision - Minister for Treasury and Resources
Le Perquage Car Park, La Route de la Haule, and Le Perquage, St Peter and St Lawrence
1779/1
Background
The Public by way of two separate contracts detailed below owns the eastern and western ends of the Le Perquage Car Park. The central section, opposite the property "Justine", is in the ownership of Jersey Water formerly the Jersey New Waterworks Company Limited that it purchased from Mrs de Muizon by contract dated the 19th August 1922. By a Deed dated the 5th July 1924, Jersey Water then leased the aforementioned area to Mr Reginald Henry Voysey. The lease was for a term of 99 years, commencing on the 24th June 1924, and ending on the same day in 2023
This lease was assigned to the Public from a Mr Voysey on 17 April 1964 and is subject to Jersey Water having one parking space free of charge. Other conditions of the lease are that there is to be no erection over the brook, Jersey Water has a right of access at all times to examine and repair the brook, no alterations are to be made to the brook and nothing is to be carried out on the land that could contaminate the brook.
The eastern part of the car park was purchased by the Public from Catherine Mary Nunn, widow of Mr Victor Coutin by contract dated the 2nd September 1966.
The western extremity of the car park is owned by the Public, having right thereto by contract dated the 24th March 1962, of hereditary gift, cession and transfer, from "La Société Jersiaise". The Société Jersiaise was granted the land as part of a bequest from Mrs Annie Bertram Mounsey .
The land was acquired by the Public as part of the transfer of ‘Le Perquage’ from the Société Jersiaise to the Public. The contract specifically requires that conditions laid down in the Codicil to the Will of Mrs Mounsey (dated 11 August 1933) be respected. These conditions include the requirement that Le Perquage is to “…be preserved as a passageway or sanctuary according to the ancient customs of the Island…”.
The contract requires that these conditions should be respected. It would not therefore be appropriate (should any construction be required) for Property Holdings to permit any form of construction on the land unless the removal of this condition is approved by the States Assembly.
Accordingly, no above ground construction (i.e. anything visible) is to be allowed on any land referred to in the Codicil, which (until otherwise demonstrated) is taken to include the western plot of land in Le Perquage car park.
The stream cannot be altered without the consent of the co-owners, due firstly to the terms of the above-mentioned contract and secondly the terms of the Head Lease.
Current Situation
The above-mentioned legal matters remain outstanding and will require resolution in the event of any application being made in respect of construction on Le Perquage.
Accordingly no above ground construction (i.e. anything visible) is to be allowed on any land referred to in the Codicil, which (until otherwise demonstrated) is taken to include all of the land acquired by the Public that comprises the western plot of land in Le Perquage car park.
Any application to build any above ground or visible structure on Le Perquage car park (or any other part of the Le Perquage) will be counter signed by Property Holdings, as owner, but an accompanying letter or footnote will be added to the application form to the effect that no permission to actually construct such a structure will be forthcoming from Property Holdings unless the matter of the terms of the Codicil to the Will have been resolved.
Recommendation
In the event that a planning application is sought in respect of any construction of any above ground or visible construction on or as part of Le Perquage it is recommended that Property Holdings will permit an application to be submitted, but it is to be noted that no permission to carry out any such construction will be forthcoming until (a) all legal matters have been resolved, and (b) the States (as an Assembly) have approved a variation in the conditions attached to the Le Perquage to allow such construction to take place.
It is not considered necessary to investigate the matter any more, until an application has been submitted and Property Holdings has been specifically requested to investigate this matter further. Reference is made to the Ministerial Decision ref MD-PH-2006-0094 and such construction will have to take account of the policy outlined in this decision. It is also recommended that should an investigation be required, that the Director of Property Holdings will agree any likely legal or administration costs with the requesting party before commencing any work.
Written By: Paul Griffin
Senior Valuer/Estates Surveyor
Signature …………………………
Authorised By: Paul Tucker
Assistant Director of Property Holdings
Signature ………………………… 15 November 2006