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A decision made (16.03.07) to adopt the revised Historic Building Design and Development Brief for 1 Oxford Road, St. Helier.

Subject:	Revised Historic Building Design and Development Brief: 1 Oxford Road, St Helier (former Le Seelleur Workshop)
Decision ref:	MD-PE-2007-0040	Exempt clause(s):		None
Type of report:	Written and oral	Report file ref:		HE1255
Person giving report (if oral): Principal Historic Buildings Advisor
Written report – author: Principal Historic Buildings Advisor
Written Report Title: Revised Historic Building Design and Development Brief: 1 Oxford Road, St Helier (former Le Seelleur Workshop)
Decision(s): The Minister for Planning and Environment adopted the revised Historic Building Design and Development Brief
Reason(s) for decision: The brief will assist the owners, prospective purchasers and Planning Officers in considering the future of this site, and the revisions will allow for wider discussion.
Action required:  Publish the revised brief.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision:

1 Oxford Road, St. Helier - revised Historic Building and Development Brief

		Item No:
		Date:

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

Revised Historic Building Design and Development Brief

1 Oxford Road, St Helier (former Le Seelleur Workshop)

Purpose of the Report

Now that the protected status of the building has been confirmed, the owners wish to market the site. It is felt that this presents an opportunity to update the earlier brief.

Background

A Design and Development Brief was prepared by the former Assistant Director Design and Conservation in 1998 and adopted by the former Committee in 2001. The site has remained unused for some considerable time. It has now been protected as a Site of Special Interest, and the owners wish to market it with the benefit of the brief.

As the document was written some time ago it was felt that it would be appropriate to update it so that the marketing exercise could include current information.

Discussion

The brief as originally adopted seems to have envisaged the replacement of much of the upper fabric and in fact seems to suggest that this should be the case. The amendments put forward a more measured approach which refers more to retention where possible, leaving the matter open for discussion.

It also reconsiders the potential uses as there is a need to be as flexible as possible given the condition of the building and the likely level of investment to bring it back into beneficial use. The original brief excluded residential use, whilst the revised version removes that exclusion, but suggests that that a residential conversion may need to be in an open plan ‘loft’ style to preserve the open character.

The changes to the text which are put forward are shown as the main text of the attached document, with the original wording tracked in the margin. If the Minister is content to adopt the revised version, the changes will be consolidated.

Conclusions

The need to find a user and use for this historic building is recognised, but the uses previously suggested are considered a little restrictive. Also, the opportunities for removal and replacement of fabric are considered too wide. The revisions seek to address these issues without making the brief any more restrictive, with matters of structural change being left for later discussion with potential purchasers who will have access to architectural and engineering advice related to their own proposals.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Minister for Planning and Environment adopts the revised Historic Building Design and Development Brief.

Reason(s) for Decision

The brief will assist the owners, prospective purchasers and Planning Officers in considering the future of this site, and the revisions will allow for wider discussion.

Action Required

1. Publish the revised brief.

Written by:

Janet Dore

Principal Historic Buildings Advisor

Endorsed by:

Kevin Pilley

Assistant Director

Attachments: Revised Historic Building Design and Development Brief

File ref HE1255

Date 08/03/2007