28 January 2016
Proposals to convert and extend public toilets at La Pulente (P/2015/1600) to provide a new beach café on the Five Mile Road were today approved by the Planning Applications Committee.
The existing building is in the Coastal National Park which has the highest level of protection from development.
The Island Plan allows development in circumstances where a significant tourism, recreational, public enjoyment and visual gain can be achieved.
Permission was given for development of the site in 2007 but it wasn’t used and the permit expired.
A planning officer report on the application described the proposed development as a ‘well-designed new building – innovative and contemporary in its approach’ and which was suitable for its surrounding natural environment.
The proposed operator, MOO, is a local business which aims to provide a ‘healthy and nutritious’ outlet.
The department recieved 22 letters of support, one against and a petition in favour of the development.
Church extension rejected
Proposals to build a small extension to the Parish Church of St Lawrence were turned down by the Committee.
The church is a potential grade 1 listed building – the highest protected status and the Committee members expressed concern about the possible damage to the historic building.
The church authorities wanted to add disabled access and toilet facilities in a small extension (P/2015/1840).
The church currently hosts a parents and toddler group, a Café Calm drop-in morning and Messy Church activities, in addition to its traditional function.
It doesn’t have any toilet facilities and people with restricted mobility, using pushchairs or wheelchairs have to negotiate five steps into the church.
Church authorities looked at the possibility of building new facilities within the church but that was found to be impractical. They worked closely with Historic Environment and planning officers to develop a scheme that would result in a well designed extrension that a planning report described as ‘sympathetic to the architecture of this important building’.
However, Committee members did not agree, citing the loss of historic fabric by covering over the original cannon entrance to the west-facing gable. Members were divided two votes in favour and two votes against the proposals – under the Committee’s rules, a project has to receive a postive majority in order to be approved.
The department will continue to work with the Church and community in order to find a more acceptable alternative.
Kart Club use of Loop Road
A Jersey Kart And Motor Club application (RP/2015/1431) to change plans for a go-kart circuit on the St John loop road were approved by the Committee.
The club wanted to revise an existing temporary planning permit (up to May 2026). The previously approved application was for a circuit track with competitor parking, chicanes, access roads and a pit lane.
The new plans simplify the proposed development to keep the existing loop road as it is now, without parking, a spectator area, earth banks and tyre walls. A planning officer report concluded that the current planning application would have less impact than the approved application.
The Kart And Motor Club is still limited to using the road for no more than 16 approved race days a year. However the Planning Applications Committee added a further condition to the permit that the site must be returned to nature when the permission expires.
The Planning Department received 17 letters of objection, but concluded the various conditions placed on the original planning permission (P/2010/1467) mean there would not be unreasonable harm to neighbouring uses.
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