Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey: Grand Hotel, Esplanade

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A decision made (17.12.2008) to determine intention to retain part of Grand Hotel, Esplanade on Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey.

Decision Ref:	MD–PE–2008-0275
Subject:	Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey: Grand Hotel, Esplanade, St Helier.
Decision Summary Title:	DS - Register as Building of Local Interest: Grand Hotel, Esplanade, St Helier.
DS Author:	Kevin Pilley, Assistant Director
DS Date:	4th December 2008	DS Status:	Public
Written Report Title:	WR – Register as Building of Local Interest: Grand Hotel, Esplanade, St Helier.
WR Author:	Roger Hills, Head of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage
WR Date	10th November 2008	WR Status:	Public
Oral Rapporteur:	Roger Hills, Head of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage
Decision(s):	The Assistant Minister for Planning and Environment determined that it was her intention to; retain, as Building of Local Interest, that part of the hotel comprising the early 1950’s Art Deco-inspired building (in Pierson Road) for its particular local interest; not to Register the 1890s hotel (Esplanade), or the 1950’s infill
Reason(s) for Decision:	The intention to Register as Building of Local Interest Grand Hotel, Esplanade, St Helier is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings as follows: Retaining the early 1950’s Art Deco-inspired building on the Register as a BLI is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings as follows:  The building retains its external historic form and detail, and makes as significant and positive contribution to the architectural and historical character and appearance of Jersey;  The building is significant for its architectural design;  The building illustrates aspects of Jersey’s social, economic and cultural history;  The building is of an unusual building type. The registration of the 1890 Hotel is not justified against the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings as it does not retain its external historic forma and detail. The registration of the late 1950’s infill building in Peirson Road is not justified against the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings as it is not of architectural or historical interest.
Legal and Resource Implications:	The inclusion of buildings and places in the Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey is consistent with the purposes of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002.
Action required:	Serve Notice of Intent
Signature:
Position:	Assistant Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different to Date Signed):

Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey: Grand Hotel, Esplanade

Grand Hotel, Esplanade, St Helier.

This report has been prepared by Jersey Heritage as part of its responsibility under a Service Level Agreement to provide reports and recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Environment on the architectural, historical and archaeological significance of buildings and sites.

The assessment and recommendation are made in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings. The report includes the views and advice offered by the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group.

Author of report: Roger Hills BA(Hons) MA DipBldgCons (RICS) IHBC Head of Historic Buildings

Date of report: 10 November 2008

File ref: HE1302 & HE9069

Current status

The Art Deco-inspired early 1950s building in Peirson Road is currently registered as BLI; the main 1890 hotel and late 1950s addition were removed from the Register in 2002.

Relevant interests of the site (see assessment form)

The 1890 hotel was designed by T E Collcutt whose other work included the Imperial Institute and the Savoy Hotel in London. The 1890 hotel remains as a landmark building in St Helier but it has been significantly altered from the original - the ground floor frontage has been remodelled, the south end of the hotel extended, and much of the original detailing and character has been lost including all original windows, the tile-hung finish to the bays and gables, and the tall chimneystacks. Given the extent of alterations, it is proposed that the 1890 hotel does not merit re-registration.

An extension to the hotel was built in Peirson Road in the early 1950s. This building is inspired by pre-war Art Deco design and has a distinctive frontage characterised by strong vertical stepped banding, ribbed decoration to the wall surfaces, and recessed central balconies flanked by projecting canted bays (the façade was originally of Portland stone - now rendered). The rear of the building is also characterised by distinctive towers with full height vertical glazing. Other windows are uPVC and the ground floor frontage has been remodelled. It is proposed that this early 1950s building merits retention as a BLI.

Another building was constructed in the late 1950s infilling between the 1890 hotel and Deco-inspired addition. This building echoes a simplified version of its Peirson Road neighbour and lacks a distinctive architectural character. It is proposed that the c.1950s building does not merit re-registration.

Advice offered by MRLAG (and others if stated)

MRLAG discussed the hotel site at its meeting on 27 October 2008.

With regards to the 1890 hotel, 3 members argued that it should be added to the register as a BLI - principally for its historical interest and its role in the social life of the island community. 7 members voted against registration; and 1 member abstained.

With regards to the Art Deco-inspired early 1950s building, 7 members advised that it should be retained as a BLI; 4 members voted for its removal from the register.

With regards to the late 1950s infill building, members were unanimous that it does not merit registration.

Jersey Heritage recommendation

Retain the early-1950s building in Peirson Road as a BLI; do not re-register the 1890 hotel or the late 1950s extension.

Justification relating to criteria

The registration of the 1890 hotel is not justified against the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings as it does not retain its external historic form and detail.

The registration of the late 1950s infill building in Peirson Road is not justified against the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings as it not of architectural or historical interest.

Retaining the early 1950s Art Deco-inspired building on the Register as a BLI is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings as follows:

· The building retains its external historic form and detail, and so makes a significant and positive contribution to the architectural and historical character and appearance of Jersey;

· The building is significant for its architectural design;

 The building illustrates aspects of Jersey’s social, economic and cultural history;

 The building is of an unusual building type.

Attachments

Assessment form and photographs, October 2008