Demolition will see Lower Canichers close for 10 months

Monday 10 June 2019

A derelict building behind the Swan Inn is set to be demolished, a quarter of a century after permission was first given to do so.

Work to pull down the Town building, which is on top of a Neolithic burial ground, will start this week, with the Lower Canichers due to close on Wednesday for 10 months while the site is demolished and private parking created in its place.

Permission to demolish the building was first granted in 1993 and after more than a dozen subsequent planning applications, the work is set to commence. 

"This proposal is for a car park, to be joined to an existing office on St Julian’s Avenue, with a terrace above, to provide an office amenity area, and with the preservation of archaeological remains at basement level," said Planning Services. 

"There is considerable archaeological interest in this site, where a possible cairn was partially excavated in 2001. The applications which were previously approved included a condition that a scheme for archaeological investigation and recording be submitted prior to commencement of development, and so this condition should again be attached."

Archealeogical excavation will take place within six weeks of the property's demolition. 

According to the owners of The Swan Inn, the derelict building "needs to be demolished as soon as, the sooner the better" as there are serious problems with rats, pigeons and overgrown weeds.

In conjunction with the closure of the Lower Canichers  (between Le Truchot and St Julian’s Avenue), Traffic and Highways Services said the one-way in the top section of Le Truchot (from Sir William Place up) will be reversed, until the Lower Canichers is reopened. Vehicles will still be able to access the Police Garage from St Julian’s Avenue, with a No-Entry zone from immediately below the Police Garage.