Pointues Rocques plans change following feedback

Monday 03 September 2018

The controversial Draft Development Framework for a proposed development on a disused vinery near Delancey Park has been amended and updated following a large number of comments made by neighbouring residents and other members of the public.

The revised framework has been prepared by the States's Planning Service for "a potential residential development at Pointues Rocques, St Sampson, on an allocated housing site within the Island Development Plan."

The site in question is the St Clair Vinery and adjoining former vinery land, as well as a dwelling on Robergerie Road, which would have to be knocked down to create access. In total the area is approximately 15 vergees or 2.5 hectares.

Pictured: The IDP Proposals Map on gov.gg showing the Pointues Rocques housing allocation site outlined in blue

If planning permission is given for the site to be developed, a mixture of two and three storey buildings could be built, offering up to 60 dwellings per hectare meaning up to 150 in total across the whole site.

Planning Services are at pains to reveal this is not definitely happening though saying, "it is important to note that this density and yield are indicative. The site may be able to yield more, or less dwellings, subject to meeting all the development and design guidelines, including the provision of associated car parking and both private and communal amenity space and depending on the type of housing proposed."

A few changes have been made to the Draft Development Framework since it was first released to some public opposition with guidance for a second access road now included to try and mitigate some of the concerns raised about increased amounts of traffic using Robergerie Road.

The initial Traffic Impact Assessment which was undertaken on behalf of the landowners had suggested a single point of access to the site from Robergerie Road where a house called The Swallows currently sits.

It's now been revealed that Traffic and Highways Services had given feedback, following a site visit in May 2018, which means the Development & Planning Authority has now said there should be two vehicle access roads, one from Robergerie and one from Rue des Pointues Rocques. The DPA said that would mean, "additional traffic movements are spread between two roads rather than concentrated on one.  The Draft Development Framework has therefore been revised to reflect this decision."

Other changes have been made to increase the width of Rue des Pointues Rocques in some areas, to allow two-way traffic flow, by relocating the "informal unregulated car parking on Rue des Pointues Rocques by using an area within the allocated site comprising a maximum of 6 parking spaces."

Pictured: The Draft Development Framework gives an idea of how a new development would be served by buses as well as resident's own vehicular access points 

At this stage the Draft Development Framework remains a document offering planning guidance on how the site might be developed. The DPA said it is aimed at providing "broad, comprehensive and practical guidance on how policies in the Island Development Plan will be applied to a site and considers appraisal of the wider area and site."

The original Draft Development Framework for this site was published in August 2017 and attracted "a substantial public response" which the DPA said have all been reviewed. The DPA said it "noted that the issue of traffic and access had emerged as a fundamental issue which had significant implications for the Draft Development Framework in its original form."

Further comments are expected on the second Draft Development Framework and they can be sent to the DPA by email at planning@gov.gg or by writing to the Authority at Sir Charles Frossard House before 17:00, Friday 12 October 2018. 

Any further comments will be considered alongside the Draft Development Framework and if approved by the Development and Planning Authority, the Development Framework will then become 'Supplementary Planning Guidance' which will be taken into account when considering development proposals for this site. 

Pictured: The site in question and the current registered landowners according to the Draft Development Framework 

A separate Planning Application was submitted for this site last year, but it is in abeyance as any decision on it cannot be made until after a Development Framework has been approved by the DPA.

The Draft Development Framework can be read online at gov.gg here or paper copies are available to view at Sir Charles Frossard House and at the St Sampson Douzaine Room.