375 Homes On Rezoned Land

The States Assembly has agreed to build 375 affordable homes on rezoned land by the end of 2025.

Politicians set a target of 600 last week as part of the Bridging Island Plan, but decided to vote against building on a number of green fields that were suggested for new homes.

That 600 formed part of a total across the island of 4,300.

Environment Minister Deputy John Young described it as 'significant enough'.

34 of those 375 homes will be built on two fields close to the village centre in St Peter, following a successful challenge from Parish Constable Richard Vibert.

Other fields opposite these homes have been offered to the parish to use as community space.

Constable Vibert says it will be one of the most exciting housing developments to take place in the parish.

"Unlike our previous developments in the 1970s, we aim to meet the island's need rather than just considering the individual needs of the parish.

I know that provided Andium can reach agreement with the landowners, we will have a scheme that both the parish and the island can be proud of."

They were included on the backup plan for affordable housing sites by the Environment Minister if some of his other preferred sites were rejected.

As such, he gave this scheme his support.

"There has never been any doubt that the landscape appraisal score was medium and with supplementary tree planting that can then minimise any impact on the landscape.

It relates well to the village centres and we've got facilities accessible on foot."

A proposal from Senator Steve Pallett to build on a field on the St Lawrence main road has been thrown out.

He did, however, win a vote to build new affordable homes on a field near the new Co-op at Sion.

Senator Pallett says it's an important opportunity to provide a small number of homes.

One of his supporters was the Constable of St John, Andy Jehan.

"If (Field) 1109 (on La Grande Route de St. Jean, St. John) is deemed suitable for housing, something we've voted on and approved, then I believe (Field) 1404 should also be seen as suitable for affordable homes.

Let's not forget this Island Plan is about people and families. We're elected to make decisions and here is an opportunity for a site to be rezoned to help."

Senator Pallett's amendment to the Bridging Island Plan was approved by 33 votes to 10.

An attempt to build more than 100 homes on five green fields in Grouville was rejected.

It was proposed by Deputy Scott Wickenden, who argued that not building in the parish now will lead to even more of the island's young people leaving.

"The children need to know that they will have hope of buying a house in the future. The parishioners have asked for more affordable housing.

The parishioners that are looking for a house in the parish did not have a chance by the parish to have a voice. The site cannot be seen by the road and is close to local amenities and connected to local services."

The Environment Minister revealed that this is the largest site in the entire Bridging Island Plan for housing.

If it was approved, 102 homes would be built.

Deputy John Young says it's 'regrettable that we've ended up abandoning and rejecting what are the best sites under our planning process.'

Many of his proposed green sites for affordable housing were rejected by States members last week.

More than 250 Grouville parishioners voiced their disapproval of the plan at a parish assembly earlier this month.

A packed parish hall and church at this evening's requête regarding rezoning of Green fields for housing. pic.twitter.com/X4l3OOcrMz

— Parish of Grouville (@PGrouville) March 10, 2022

Parish Constable John Le Maistre says the feeling of people was clear.

"I took a show of hands and there was not one hand that went up for these fields to be rezoned. Not one.

The term 'strong objection', well it couldn't really be stronger. As I said last week, the passion among the members of the audience that evening was palpable, so I can't express too much how much the parish is against it."

The Constable also disputed Deputy Wickenden's assertion that the development would be close to amenities and said he couldn't think of any good reason to support it.

"Nobody is in favour of it. The (Environment) Minister is against it, the Planning Inspector, the Land Control Team, the (Jersey) Farmers Union, the parish, me, and old Uncle Tom are against this proposition."

Concerns were also raised about flooding risks in that area, with Deputy Ward asking whether there would be school places available for children who live in these homes.

Deputy Wickenden says this plan is getting to a point where it's not worth voting for altogether.

"We're not going to be providing anything in here. The headlines will be that we won't be building any new houses, the young people will decide they have no hope and will just leave the island.

This may not be the best, (but) it's better than the site in St Peter's that we have passed. The site in St Peter was on better agricultural land and it was a big field right in the middle of the parish will change the view going through that parish considerably.

This, at least, will be hidden away and is, in my view, far less damaging to agriculture and landscape and the setting than this one."

Despite his plea, his amendments were rejected by States members.

Meanwhile, the Constable of St Mary has hit out at who he calls the 'nimbys' who opposed plans to build affordable homes on green fields in the parish.

"This is a matter of principle. We should not be looking to the elections or to appeasing the nimbys.

I will not be intimidated by them to do so. I hope that (States) members feel the same."

John Le Bailly proposed building a field owned by a former St Mary farmer for first-time buyer housing.

But it was rejected by 34 votes to 8.

The Environment Minister said he couldn't support it because of a need to protect the character of the area.

The Deputy of St Mary, David Johnson, voted against his own Constable.

"Certainly, it is not the minority of the parish that opposes it. It is the vast majority.

I wish to place on record that I do not believe it is 'nimby' members of the parish who are opposing it.

They are opposing it for the very good reasons that the (Environment) Minister set out in his summary."

The States Assembly has agreed to build on the following fields:

• J1109 La Grande Route de St. Jean, St. John
• J229, La Route du Nord, St. John
• J236, La Rue du Cimetière, St. John
• MY563 La Rue de la Rosière & La Rue de la Vallée, St. Mary
• O785 La Rue des Cosnets, St. Ouen
• P558 La Verte Rue, St. Peter
• P559 La Route du Manoir, St. Peter
• T1404, Trinity (adjacent to the new Co-op)
• P655 and P656, La Route de Beaumont, St. Peter
• MN410, St. Martin
• MN389 and MN390, St. Martin 
• O594 and O595, St. Ouen
• P632, St. Peter
• S470, St. Saviour

Other fields that were rejected for affordable housing were:

• H1248 Highview Lane, St. Helier
• O622 and O623 La Rue de la Croute, St. Ouen
• G392A, Grouville
• H1186A St. Helier
• H1189 St. Helier
• H1198 St. Helier
• H1219 in St. Helier next to Haute Vallée School
• S341 Bel Air Lane, St. Saviour
• S413, S415, St Saviour (extension to Les Cinq Chênes Estate)
• S530, St Saviour (behind Le Clos Paumelle)
• S729, St Saviour (The former Longueville Nursery off New York Lane, Longueville Road)
• L127, La Grande Route de St. Laurent / La Fraide Rue, St. Lawrence
• MY563, St. Mary
• G508, G508A, G526,G526A G521A, Grouville
• P558, St. Peter (adjacent to the Queen’s Jubilee Homes)

The field next to Haute Vallée School in St Helier will be rezoned for homes for people with disabilities.

A field on La Longue Rue in St Martin will be rezoned for homes for the over-55s.