Esplanade inquiry under way

Tuesday 28th October 2008, 2:59PM GMT.

THE public inquiry into the £350 million Esplanade Quarter development on the Waterfront started yesterday.

The five-day inquiry is the first of its kind in Jersey and two Planning applications from developers Harcourt and the Waterfront Enterprise Board will be examined by two independent UK planning inspectors. Yesterday the two inspectors – Chris Shepley and Alan Langton – asked questions regarding the building design, visual appearance and environmental sustainability.

Despite the project having both planning permission and the backing of the States, the inquiry could still have an impact on the overall plans. So far there have been 68 letters of representation, with Islanders and specific bodies raising concerns about flooding, drainage, the design and the developer’s financial capability to fund such a project in the current credit crisis. The project, which would take seven to ten years to build, would involve a 14-block development containing 621,700 square feet of office space, 400 flats 1,420 underground parking spaces, a 30-bedroom hotel and 65 self-catering apartments as well as three public squares and a covered winter garden.

The plans submitted also include lowering Route de la Libération from Gloucester Street to the eastern end of the existing underpass.

Pictured: Jim Greaves of Hopkins Architects defends his firm’s development plans at the inquiry at St Paul’s Centre on Monday

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Michael

October 29, 2008 at 5:04 pm

We already have tourist complaining about Jersey being like one big building site if this project goes through what affect will it have on tourism. Whose idea was it that we need this gigantic building project, where are the people coming from to fill the offices, flats, self contained apartments. What happens if it all goes pear shape, the states don’t exactly have a great record do they, remember the cavern over double the budget with the engineer handling the project for the states taking early retirement and get a position with the contractors. I know this has been said by many other people, but think about ‘why does such a small island need such a massive building project’ who wants it? who will be benefiting from it, the contractors. who will have to pick up the pieces if it all goes wrong, us the taxpayer Think about it, a 10-year buildng site and 10 years plus of traffc chaos and for what? To make money for some contractor and satisfy another architect ego.

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