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Developers have received permission to go ahead with a controversial proposal to build 68 homes at Pointues Rocques in St Sampson's.
The Development & Planning Authority unanimously approved the planning application at an open planning meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
Deputy Victoria Oliver, the President of the Authority, said the application was approved "with a very heavy heart" and hoped that "new houses will help young families remain on the island".
The approved scheme is for 30 dwellings, 10 flats, 12 maisonettes and 16 affordable houses with associated vehicular accesses, car parking and landscaping. The application was made by Mr R Plumley, Messrs Gabriels, Asparagus Tips Too Ltd and the Guernsey Housing Association.
Pictured: Campaigners have fought for many years against development of a site which they consider a green lung in a densely-populated part of St Sampson's.
The application generated 125 representations from stakeholders and members of the public, most of which were objections to the proposed development. A previous application to develop the site for housing, which was not approved, provoked 118 representations. In 2017, hundreds of people marched against development of the site for housing.
More than 30 representors spoke at the open planning meeting to put forward a range of concerns, including about traffic congestion and road safety, the impact of construction on neighbours and the density of housing proposed.
After approving the application, Deputy Oliver, pictured top, said the Authority faced "an incredibly difficult decision" and was "bound by the Development Framework agreed by the previous [Authority]".
Pictured: The members of the Development & Planning Authority unanimously agreed to the proposed scheme but then subsequently issued a statement which included a claim that the Authority was "bound" by decisions made by their predecessors.
The Authority granted permission with various conditions, which include requiring developers to submit more information about landscaping of the site and consider installing playground equipment.
The Authority said that a car sharing scheme put forward by the developers would go some way to alleviating concerns about traffic.
"We had the challenging task of weighing up the application, especially the traffic impact when this partially hinges on another Committee’s mandate," said Deputy Oliver.
"We will continue to work closely with our colleagues across the States to get the best out of future applications.
"I hope the planning application enhances what we like about Guernsey while addressing some of the issues. We will continue to work with the developers and stakeholders to ensure that end results are improved."
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