PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
List as a Site of Special Interest
East Warehouse, 27 Esplanade, St Helier
Purpose of the Report
To seek to confirm the Minister’s intention to add East Warehouse, 27 Esplanade, St Helier to the List of Sites of Special Interest.
Background and discussion
The Minister previously considered a report on the matter prepared by Jersey Heritage dated 24 March 2009 and determined that this building and place was of sufficient interest to warrant its addition to the List of Sites of Special Interest. The Minister visited the site on 22 July 2009 and a notice of Minister’s intent to add this site to the List was served on the owner of the property on 31 July 2009, in order to provide an opportunity for representations to be made.
The Notice was originally incorrectly served and has been re-served on the declared owner of the building. Two representations have been received, one from the owner (dated 04 November) and one from their professional representatives MS Planning dated 04 November).
The former representation relates to the timeline associated with an exploration of the building’s development potential and the perceived implications of Listing for the site’s subsequent development: this is not material to the Minister’s determination of whether the site has any special public importance.
The latter seeks to question the basis of the building’s special interest on historical, architectural and traditional grounds. Jersey Heritage has sought to respond to the points raised in a supplementary report dated 11 November 2009.
The Minister considered this matter at a public meeting on 27 November 2009 where he decided to defer a decision pending a site visit to be attended by the building owner and their agent.
The Minister visited the site on 15 January 2010, where he met the owner and her agent and listened to the representations made. As a consequence of the site visit, the Minister wished for the matter to be reviewed by MRLAG. MRLAG reconsidered the matter on 18 January 2010 and reaffirmed its earlier support for Listing on a unanimous basis.
Legal and resource implications
Article 51(2)(b) of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 enables the Minister to include on the List of Sites of Special Interest those buildings and places that the Minister is satisfied has public importance by reason of the special archaeological, architectural, artistic, historical, scientific or traditional interest that attached to the building or place.
Recommendation
Notwithstanding the representations made, Jersey Heritage maintains its recommendation to add East Warehouse, 27 Esplanade, St Helier to the List of Sites of Special Interest because of its special architectural and historical interest, with minor amendment to the SSI schedule to remove ‘traditional’ interest as a basis for Listing.
Reason(s) for Decision
The special interest of East Warehouse, 27 Esplanade, St Helier, as defined and in the schedule and relative to the published criteria for selection, justifies its inclusion on the List of Sites of Special Interest in accordance with the provisions and purposes of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 and;
It accords with the States Strategic Plan commitment of protecting and enhancing the Island’s built heritage assets.
Action Required
1. Notify the owner
2. Update the List of Sites of Special Interest
3. Notify Development Control
Written by: | Kevin Pilley Assistant Director (Policy and Projects) |
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Approved by: | Peter Thorne Director (Planning and Building Services) |