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A decision made (10.04.07) to transfer La Collette Flats from Site of Special Interest to Building of Local Interest.

Subject:	La Collette Flats, Green Street, St. Helier, Jersey
Decision reference:	MD-PE-2006-0021	Exempt clause(s):		None
Type of report:	Written and oral	Report file ref:		HE0238
Person giving report (if oral): Curator of Historic Buildings – Jersey Heritage Trust
Written report – author: Curator of Historic Buildings – Jersey Heritage Trust
Written Report Title: Register of Buildings of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey – appeal against the Listing of La Collette Flats, Green Street, St Helier
Decision(s): The Minister for Planning and Environment determined that La Collette Flats shall be removed from the List of Sites of Special Interest, but maintained on the Register of Buildings of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey as a Building of Local Interest
Reason(s) for decision: La Collette Flats does not satisfy the published selection criteria for designation as a Site of Special Interest, but retains sufficient architectural and historic interest to satisfy the published selection criteria for Buildings of Local Interest.
Action required: · Issue Notice of Intention to owner · Refer to Minister for formal determination no sooner than 28 days after the issue of the Notice of intention · Notify appellant of decision
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision:

La Collette Flats, Green Street, St. Helier - list as Building of Local Interest

		Item No:
		Date:

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

Appeal against the SSI Listing of La Collette Flats, Green Street, St Helier

Purpose of the Report

The purpose of this report is for the Minister to consider an appeal against the Listing of La Collette Flats as a Site of Special Interest, having regard to the States strategic objective ‘to protect the best of the Island’s architectural heritage’ and a key objective of 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 provide reports and recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Environment on the registration of buildings and sites. It incorporates the views of the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group (MRLAG) - a group established to provide independent, expert advice on matters relating to the protection of buildings and sites of cultural interest.

The Island Development Committee listed La Collette Flats as a Site of Special Interest in 1972. The Housing Committee of the day formally accepted the listing.

A request to reconsider this listing was submitted by Dyson and Buesnel (on behalf of the Housing Department) to the Planning and Environment Department in July 2006. The Department subsequently requested that the Jersey Heritage Trust undertake an assessment of the significance of the flats ahead of discussions by the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group at its meeting on 9 Oct 2006.

MRLAG carried out an assessment of the estate including an internal inspection of three typical flats and communal areas but the group concluded that an additional expert report on the architectural merits of La Collette Flats was needed to better inform a recommendation on the site.

The Jersey Heritage Trust subsequently consulted listing inspectors at English Heritage with an expertise in post-war buildings, and was advised that Ms Victoria Perry (an architect who sits on the Buildings Committee of the Twentieth Century Society) would be a suitable author for the report (see attached).

Discussion

La Collette Flats (designed by Taylor, Hewitt and Leapingwell) were built in 1963. The scheme was the result of a competition held within the Association of Jersey Architects. The estate has special historical interest as the first tower block built in the Island, using reinforced concrete on a scale not previously attempted.

The Perry report sets out the special architectural interest of La Collette Flats and concludes that the estate displays sufficient architectural and landscape quality to merit the protection afforded by its listed status as an SSI.

It identifies the expression of the concrete framed construction in the elevations and the clear articulation of structure and panels as fundamental to the special external character of the estate. The report goes on to recommend that full protection should be retained for the semi-enclosed communal spaces such as the tower lift lobbies (with cast glass ‘profilit’ panels, elegant steel framed doors with cast bronze handles and cast metal signage), the covered balconies, and the staircase with its neatly designed balustrades; but that the SSI protection should not extend to the interior of the flats.

The report identifies the influences of Le Corbusier in the ‘parkland’ landscaping of the estate and concludes that this is an equally critical part of the architectural scheme - noting the use of trees and raised grass lawn alongside well-designed architectural details including the spiral-patterned paving reflecting the form of the spiral concrete staircase and the elegantly curved pram ramp.

Recommendation

La Collette Flats should be retained as a Site of Special Interest, with the Listing description specifying that the interior of the flats are not considered to be of special interest.

Reason(s) for Decision

The Listing of La Collette Flats as a Site of Special Interest is in accordance with the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 and published selection criteria.

Action Required

 Amend the listing description to specify the character of interest but specifically excluding the interior of the individual flats'

 Issue a notification letter to the appellant

 Notify Development Control - Urban Team of decision

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

Approved by:	Janet Dore Principal Hitoric Buildings Officer

Endorsed by:	Kevin Pilley Assistant Director

Attachments:

Location plan

Appeal letter from Dyson and Buesnel, 21 July 2006

Architectural assessment of La Collette Flats by V Perry, January 2007

Evening Post article, 12 May 1961

Photograph of La Collette Flats, c.1970s

Photographs of La Collette Flats, 2006

Photographs of other tower block estates in Jersey, 2006

01 February 2007