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The Guernsey Housing Association is now seeking planning approval for 57 one-bedroom flats on a brownfield site in a large building partly towering to 10 storeys.
It’s anticipated the homes will be used by key workers, such as health staff, and as stock for the partial ownership scheme through the GHA.
The site, now named Domaine des Moulins, was formerly used by CI Tyres and has been abandoned for several years until the GHA purchased it for £1.7m last summer through its States grant.
Plans had previously been submitted for far fewer homes within a three-storey building, but this was later reconsidered to maximise the sites’ potential to combat the island’s housing shortage.
The GHA say while a higher density development will cost more to build, it will be better value for money due to the number of homes added to the market.
Various types of cladding feature in the design, with green terracotta panels used for the highest floors helping the development to blend in with the mature trees at the back of the site.
Accessibility has been considered in the design with ramped access to the buildings and outdoor spaces, and lifts servicing all 57 units.
As well as 20 car parking spaces there would be secure covered bicycle parking for around 50 bikes.
Most of the homes would have a terrace or balcony, while the front-facing ground floor units would have gardens. A communal space is proposed in the internal courtyard.
Cliff excavation and stabilisation work is also requested.
The site is flanked by two protected buildings hailing from the 18th century.
Pictured: The architect impression of the building from Frossard House. Credit: Lovell Ozanne.
The plans also include new vehicle and pedestrian access to La Charroterie, a bicycle access ramp, and a ‘pedestrian bridge’ from the sixth floor to access the neighbouring woodland with a winding pedestrian path to Montville Drive proposed.
That land is publicly owned and managed by the States, with approval needed for the installation of such a path.
An ecological assessment was undertaken by Environment Guernsey Ltd as the site includes an area of biodiversity importance. It said more details are required to predict the severity of the impact on nature, but mitigations through design could limit the effects on the site’s sensitive areas.
Trees may have to be felled to create the woodland path therefore destroying habitats, but new planting in the area could offset this.
Light pollution and disturbance were not considered to be of a “major nature” providing mitigations are included.
Bird and bat boxes are proposed to be attached to the side on the structure, as well as a fire escape.
The majority of build costs will come from borrowing, with politicians recently giving P&R authority to borrow up to £150m to lend to an affordable housing provider to execute building projects.
You can view the application FULL/2023/1986 HERE.
Pictured (top): A mock-up of the development. Credit: Lovell Ozanne.
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