PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
Listed Buildings and Places
Former Commercial Hotel, 1 Commercial Street, St Helier
Purpose of the Report
To seek to confirm the Minister’s intention to retain the former Commercial Hotel, 1 Commercial Street, St Helier as a potential Listed Building (formerly Building of Local Interest).
Background and discussion
In response to an appeal (dated 14 July 2010) against its designation as a Building of Local Interest a report on the former Commercial Hotel, 1 Commercial Street, St Helier has been prepared by Jersey Heritage dated 17 August 2010 which determined that this building and place was of sufficient interest to warrant its continued designation as a heritage asset.
A notice to this effect was served, in order to provide an opportunity for additional representations to be made: no additional written representations have been received.
The principal basis of the appeal is that the building has ‘changed beyond recognition from the original hotel’. Most of the other points made in the representation are not related to an assessment of the heritage value of the building but rather seek to address planning issues associated with development proposals. These matters are not material to the Minister’s deliberations as to whether the building retains any heritage value and are more appropriately dealt with and, where necessary, challenged, through the process of planning applications and subsequent appeals.
Legal and resource implications
As a result of the Minister’s changes to the historic environment protection regime, a new system of designation for heritage assets is in place from 2011. This means that this property should now be considered under the auspices of the new historic environment protection regime which seeks to consolidate designations under one single category of designation (Listed Buildings and Places) in accord with the provisions of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002.
In the case of all former Buildings of Local Interest, these properties will fall to be designated as potential Listed Buildings pending a review of their heritage value as part of an all-Island Historic Environment Resurvey which will involve, where appropriate, an assignment of a non-statutory grade and a formal designation process in accord with the requirements of the law.
Article 51(2)(b) of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 enables the Minister to include on a List 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
On the basis of the recommendation of Jersey Heritage to retain this building as a Building of Local Interest it is further recommended that, having regard to the new historic environment protection regime, the Minister is further recommended to confirm the designation of this building and place as a potential Listed Building pending formal process of re-designation under the provisions of Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 and further consideration of a non-statutory grading.
Reason(s) for Decision
The interest of the former Commercial Hotel, 1 Commercial Street, St Helier, as defined in the report and relative to the published criteria for selection, justifies its retention as a designated heritage asset 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 sympathetically managing the Island’s built heritage assets.
Action Required
- Notify the owner
- Update the List
- 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) |
Attachments:
- Appeal received 14 July 2010
- Report of Jersey Heritage 17 August 2010 and associated attachments
File ref HE0919
Date 07 January 2011