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A decision made (03/05/06) regarding Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Historical and Archaeological Importance as a Building of Local Interest: Review of La Chesnaie, La Grande Route de Faldouet, St Martin.

Subject:	Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Historical and Archaeological Importance as a Building of Local Interest: Review of La Chesnaie, La Grande Route de Faldouet, St Martin
Decision Reference:	MD-PE-2006-0040	Exempt clause(s):
Type of Report (oral or written):	Written/oral	Person Giving Report (if oral):		Historic Buildings Officer
Telephone or e-mail meeting		Report File ref:		3/04/02/01/Ministerial Reports
Written Report Title:	Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey - assessment of La Chesnaie, La Grande Route de Faldouet, St Martin	Written report – Author:		Curator of Historic Buildings
Decision(s): The BLI registration for La Chesnaie shall be amended to include only the two-storey, five-bay farmhouse and its front garden and walls together with the roadside walls of the north-west range abutting La Grande Route de Faldouet. Other buildings on the site shall be removed from the BLI registration.
Reason(s) for decision: The farmhouse retains sufficient architectural and historic merit and the roadside wall makes an important contribution to the visual amenity and character of the area as to warrant registration as a Building of Local Interest. The architectural and historical interest of the linear outbuildings to the east and west of the main house has been significantly eroded by incremental change and these elements of the building no longer satisfy the criteria for Registration.
Action required:  One of the properties is the subject of a live planning application – notify Case Officer, Support Team.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision: 3 May 2006

Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey - assessment of La Chesnaie, La Grande Route de Faldouet, St Martin

		Item No:
		Date:

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey - assessment of La Chesnaie, La Grande Route de Faldouet, St Martin

Purpose of the Report

The purpose of this report is for the Minister to consider adjusting the existing BLI registration for La Chesnaie, with regards to a key objective in the Island Plan 2002 to protect and promote Jersey’s built, cultural and archaeological heritage.

Background

This report has been prepared by the Jersey Heritage Trust as part of its responsibility under a Service Level Agreement to make assessments and to provide reports and recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Environment on the registration of buildings and sites. It incorporates the views of the Jersey Heritage Advisory Panel (JHAP) - a group established to provide independent, expert advice on matters relating to the protection of buildings and sites of cultural interest.

La Chesnaie was included in the 1992 Historic Buildings Register and was confirmed as a BLI by the Jersey Building Heritage Sub-Committee during its review of registered buildings in St Martin in 2001.

In February 2006, in response to a Development Control consultation, the Historic Buildings Officer requested that JHT assess the architectural and historic interests of La Chesnaie to clarify whether all parts of the property merit inclusion on the Register.

Discussion

La Chesnaie is a farm group built in the mid-to-late eighteenth century.

An evaluation of the significance of the farm group was carried out by the Curator of Historic Buildings and the Historic Buildings Officer, who concluded that the main 5-bay farmhouse retains sufficient architectural and historic merit as to warrant registration as a Building of Local Interest, but that these specific qualities of the outbuildings have been significantly eroded by incremental change and that therefore these elements of the group no longer satisfy the criteria for registration. These findings were presented for discussion by JHAP at its meeting on 13 February 2006.

Members agreed that the main farmhouse retains its historic and architectural integrity and as such makes a significant and positive contribution to the scenic value of the area and to the architectural and historical character and appearance of Jersey. Members noted that the linear range of outbuildings to either side of the farmhouse have been subject to development and alteration that has resulted in a significant erosion of their historic and architectural character.

The Panel concurred that the farmhouse should be retained as a BLI but that other buildings on the site should be removed from the BLI registration.

Recommendation

The BLI registration for La Chesnaie should be amended to include only the main farmhouse. Other buildings on the site should be removed from the BLI registration.

Reason(s) for Decision

Only the farmhouse continues to satisfy the published criteria for registration.

The amended registration of La Chesnaie is in accordance with Interim Policy HB1 which states ‘Historic buildings which contribute positively to the distinctive character or appearance of Jersey’s built-up areas or countryside, particularly where they are of ‘group value’, will be identified and included in the Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey.’

Action Required

 Notify Development Control - Rural Section of the decision

Written by:	Roger Hills Curator of Historic Buildings - Jersey Heritage Trust

Approved by:	Fiona Smith Historic Buildings Officer

Endorsed by:	Kevin Pilley Assistant Director: Policy and Projects

Attachments:

Location plan

Historic building survey form

Photographs

3/04/02/01/MR

14 February 2006