Kenilworth Vinery plans to be unveiled at public meeting

Wednesday 10 August 2022

“Detailed plans” for the Kenilworth Vinery housing development will be on show at a public presentation next month, hosted by the Guernsey Housing Association (GHA).

The presentation will be held at the Rock Community Church on New Road, St. Sampson from 10:00-12:00 on September 10, and the GHA say representatives from both the Vale and St. Sampsons douzaines will be involved in the briefing process.

The States purchased the vinery for £6.5m in October last year. The GHA plan to build around 130 units of accommodation, including affordable housing, on the site. 

The GHA will be fielding questions about the proposals, and are prepared to address concerns about traffic, congestion, and accessibility in the north of the island.

Mock-ups of the development will be available including ‘fly-through’ videos to give an indication of the look and feel of the site. Steve Williams, Chief Executive of the GHA, confirmed to Express that mix of housing will be 60 one-bedroom apartments, 41 two-bed houses, 28 three-bed houses, and 2 four-bed houses "being a mix of rent and partial ownership, and reflecting the waiting list housing needs".  

Active transport consultants WSP – commissioned by the GHA to survey mobility in the north of Guernsey – will also be in attendance. 

Mr Williams added that the "principal aim of the mobility plan is to improve transport options for current and future residents in this area, particularly in respect to active travel-modes, public transport and shared mobility such that single occupancy car journeys are minimised". 

Pictured: Kenilworth Vinery (red) is one of several future housing sites in the north of Guernsey. 

Richard Leale, Senior Constable of the Vale, told Express that “people should attend to voice their support or otherwise to this large development - its no point complaining after the event and plans have been approved".

“These large scale developments will have an impact on people who live and work in these areas and people do need to take notice of what is proposed and the likely benefits and obstacles that will be generated.”

Mr Leale added that the Vale Douzaine has not contributed to the plans for Kenilworth Vinery. 

A planning application for the development was submitted last week and will be registered by the Development & Planning Authority soon, according to Mr Williams. 

Express also contacted the St. Sampson douzaine, but they were unable to respond in time for this publication.