Belgrave development "a disaster for the whole island"

Wednesday 01 September 2021

Creating a large housing estate on an "already over-capacity road network" is a reckless solution to Guernsey's housing crisis, say northern parish officials in response to the proposed residential development of Belgrave Vinery.

The Planning Department has approved a development framework for the construction of 300 new houses on the disused site off Vale Road.

This approval comes just one week after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published warnings of increasingly extreme weather events. The Parish constables feels that the site's development "ignores multiple public representations, including that of St Sampson’s Douzaine, which details the potential risks of building on a flood plain."

In a joint statement, Vale Senior Constable Richard Leale and St Sampson’s Douzenier Rob Gill have acknowledged the need for suitable housing, but regard Belgrave as a "rushed and reactive" building project.

The proposed Fontaine and Belgrave Vineries site already experiences regular waterlogging, which is only intensified by increasing rainfalls and rising sea levels, with Guernsey’s sea levels predicted to rise by one metre by 2100. A a result of a public consultation, the States must now commission a flood risk assessment for the vineries.

Pictured: The site falls within a flood risk area. For the most part, this is at a risk of 1:250 year flooding, with smaller portions of the site falling within 1:100 year, 1:50 year and 1:10 year flood risk zones.

Aside from the flood risk, they describe the lack of groundwork planning for the area, an issue which was highlighted to all States members earlier this year. 

“However you view it, this has the potential to become a very large housing estate on an already over-capacity road network and with no easy access to the facilities and amenities that those living there will need.”

“The prospect of between 125 and 313 social or affordable new homes being created at this time is something that many parishioners would support, but only in the right place with the proper support and infrastructure, The Fontaine Belgrave vinery is not it.”

Pictured: Development and Planning set out 10 key amenities when identifying local centres fit for development

Mr Leale and Mr Gill suggested that the obvious place for 300 new homes is Leale’s Yard, which accommodates seven of the 10 key planning amenities, as opposed to the proposed site having “one or two at best.”

“The lack of amenities there would increase the car use of future residents of Belgrave Vinery…while proposed developments at Leale’s Yard, the former Quayside store and the old English and Guernsey Arms would benefit the Bridge and both Vale and St Sampson.”

The statement closed with: “Development at Belgrave may delay or stop development at Leale’s Yard, thus up to 313 homes on Belgrave Vinery would be a disaster not only to the North but for the whole island.”