Opposition to ‘brutal’ flats on coastline
Friday 27th March 2009, 2:58PM GMT.
PLANS for 24 flats at Bouley Bay are ‘brutal’ and will have a negative impact on the sensitive coastal landscape, say the National Trust for Jersey.
Chief executive Charles Alluto has written to Planning saying that the group ‘strongly disagree’ with the developer’s claims that the plans would have a positive environmental impact on the green zone.
He added that parts of the design had no local relevance. Water’s Edge Holdings plan to demolish the hotel, the Black Dog pub, the wood carving shop and the diving centre to build a mix of two- and three-bedroom flats.
Last week they unveiled the design by Sir Richard McCormack’s firm, MGP Architects, and local firm Morris Architects.
Earlier this month, it was announced that the Water’s Edge Hotel had been taken over by three hoteliers – father and son Robyn and Rory Lapidus, directors of Channel Hotels and Leisure Ltd, and David Lord.
• Picture: The proposals for Bouley Bay
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals/Departures
Harbours Arrivals/Departures
Bus Information/Timetables
JOIN US ON...
Facebook and Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Got a story? Get in touch
KIT 4 CLUBS
Win a share of £10,000
2012 is the year of the London Olympics and to celebrate this great event the Jersey Evening Post, in association with sponsors Ogier is giving all sporting clubs a chance to win a share of £10,000.
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
Based on this information, I am very confident that planning will go ahead with it anyway.
Report abuse
I take it that Sir Richard McCormack has been doing some work in Playa de las Americas in the Canaries then ?
Report abuse
Ha, it looks like the lads from Organisation Todt are back.
Report abuse
So much for these people saying they wanted to keep the hotel open – What a joke!
Report abuse
They are hideous. They look like lots of boxes all stuck together! Children could design something better.
Report abuse
Another hiddious over priced monstrosity wanting to be built in the wrong place. cohen will probably love it. Bouley bay FUBAR!!
Report abuse
Very ugly, and can we also presume that the residents will be happy with the Hill Climb stopping their access every now and then! Or will the States ‘promise’ to re-home the hill climb just as the superb job they did with the Kart track if the development goes ahead?!
Report abuse
The proposed flats are just so ugly and will be a blight on a beautiful bay. Bouley Bay is one of my most favourite places in the world and I do understand that times move on and redevelopment does happen but the architect could have been far more sympathetic to Bouley’s gorgeous location and surrounding.
I hope there is enough opposition to ensure these flats do not get built.
Report abuse
All new building should be forced to be made from granite to keep at least some of our culture.
Report abuse
That will be another pub and seaside hotel gone.
All that will be left in the island soon will be thousands of flats and houses plus a few theme pubs in the town and a few supermarkets.
The island will rue the loss of the tourism industry as it added depth and interest to the island.
It is sad to say that many of the people running the island seem to care only about money and it is not having a good effect in the long term.
Report abuse
Well well,the boy Cohen strikes again,clearly smitten and easily impressed By architect Sir Richard Mccormack,who seems to get freddy’s consent eveytime he put’s pencil to paper despite the just Awful design allowed at Le petit fort at St’ouens, those disgusting flats at what used to be Portelet holiday camp.harsh edges unsympathetic to the environment,what is now proposed at Bouley bay looks like those awful time share apts in Tenerife………this is Jersey for goodness sake,Garden isle..where is your head?
Report abuse
This is an April Fool joke. As stated, this is not Spain. This must never be built. Words fail me.
Report abuse
We’ll have a South coast that looks like Coventry and a North Coast resembling Benidorm. Fill the town centre with McDonalds and betting shops and the Brits will come in their droves. Until they realise that they can get the same at home.
Report abuse
Let me guess, the architect is an expert from the UK.
Report abuse
They’re doing the same to Portelet. Someone will make a huge amount of money for developing a beautiful site but the site will be ruined for generations.
Report abuse
It looks like a cross between an Aztec citadel and Brazilian slum.
For once I actually find my self in agreement with the National Trust.
The work they’ve been doing behind the hotel atm is a travesty, the state they have left forest/cliff in is a disgrace.
Report abuse
if you go ahead with this states planning needs hanging. perhaps hitler should have won the war as he had better thoughts to your landscapes than you lot do, just look how st. aubins anti-tank wall was stopped short because it did not look pretty. your senators must be on some serious bungs to allow this sort of destruction. yours jay. doe.
Report abuse
Freddie Cohen should hang his head in shame if he gives these carbuncles the go ahead. What a joke this is not Jersey and it doesn’t fit in. Yes if your in a place full of shanty towns.
Unfortunately I think this will be given the green light as protecting the environment doesn’t appear to be high on the planning department’s agenda. Maybe they could name the development Soweto? This has a nice ring to it and goes well with a multi-cultural society.
Nevermind when the sea levels rise in a few years time these sort of developments will end up re-claimed by the environment as rubble to be recycled into sand. Wave power soon reduced modern cheap builds to rubble.
There is no way I would pay anything for something that close to the shore. However looking at them I’m sure they should go for the best part of £1 million each. The view is worth 95% of the price the rest probably about reflects the value of the build in my honest opinion.
Ching ching loadsa money!!
Report abuse
The Jersey coastline should be kept to reflect the natural beauty that we love. These flats have no place in such a beautiful bay, they will be a blot on the landscape. I cannot believe that the Senators and Deputies could allow such a proposal get to the planning committee. When will the powers that be realise that we do not have to copy other locations, we should be stamping our mark and creating something that is in keeping with the surroundings, however I fear that the additional cost of building in local granite will not be taken well by the developer. Please kill these plans before it is too late.
Report abuse
i,ll have one if they are affordable!!better still turn it into a car park or an office block as we are desperate for office blocks!!!!
Report abuse
I’m not sure that the hanging gardens will see much sunshine for most of the year.
However, the architecture reminds me enough of Thamesmead that one way or another I would feel “at home” if I came to live at Water’s Edge.
Especially if plenty of dead dogs and shopping trolleys were to get dumped in the water.
Report abuse
Please, all of you, write strong letters of objection when the formal application is made. Keep your eyes skinned on the application lists when they are published.You won’t have a lot of time.
Report abuse
If I may quote Prince Charles ‘a monstrous carbuncle’ on a beautiful unspoilt part of the Island. The loss of the Black Dog pub and the diving school where so many people have learnt scuba diving as well, all to be lost forever.
Let us hope and pray that this development never goes ahead.
Report abuse
I have no objection to it, a little different to the boring schemes which is the norm in Jersey (before you ask, no I don’t like the waterfront hotel!).
Report abuse
What a monster of a building. Built in Spain and other Mediteranean places they look OK and fit as they fulfil the purpose for which they have been placed there but never never in Jersey. The lovely view of Bouley Bay would be destroyed for ever, besides having nowhere to eat or drink when visiting there. Where would the diving centre go?? Yet another short sighted project which as previous comments have stated will probably go ahead. If I lived on the Island I would fight it to stop it taking place but I am just a holiday visitor who loves the place and hate to see so many of the changes taking place. I can see tourism going out the door if any more of these monsters are built.
Report abuse
Take away the computer manipulated greenery and see the real impact of this truly dreadful and aptly described, “brutal” development in Bouley Bay.The problem with using UK award winning architects is that they simply don’t have that essential local grasp of Jersey’s environment, which is why they come up with totally inappropriate schemes, such as this, which carbuncle(#2),succinctly describes as Playa de las Americas.Surely, this hasn’t reached outline planning permission? If so, it must now result in a public enquiry.
Report abuse
This is yet another sad example of the rich sticking the proverbial two fingers up at the rest of the world. The only thing left to buy in Jersey is a view, so, build a monstrosity and impress your friends with the sea views.
I’m rapidly losing heart. How much more damage can this inept ruling class do?
Report abuse
Didn’t the Bouley Bay Hotel belong to ex States Member Mike Wavell?
Report abuse
How quickly Planning and Enviroment Minister Freddie Cohen forgot the “Enviroment” word in his official title.
He should be ashamed of his part in allowing the island to be covered with the architectural barnacles.
The sickest part of the joke is that he proudly lists previous membership of the Societe Jersey and Heritage Trust on his official website CV.
Report abuse
Mark’s perspectivePosted March 27, 2009 at 3:23 pm Ha, it looks like the lads from Organisation Todt are back.
If they did build anything.
1. It would last a lot longer that Ann Court (a lot longer than 30 years).
2. It would be planned and built very quickly not take years,and years of blithering ( Millennium park.
3. It would be made to blend in to the country side ie not stick out.
4.The building materials would be the best available not cheap cardboard.
5.The buildings would be fit for use, not tiny square boxes with no place to swing a cat.
6. Rooms would be made with ample room for furniture.
7. Buildings would have ample outside faculties for health activities ie sport,
8. There would be at least a secure enclosed area, so young, or old people could be kept with out fear of wondering off…….
Report abuse
another great jersey proposal aye!! what a horrible looking development. this would be a total shame if they were to be built. what is with this island!!!!! idiots
Report abuse
I agree with the National Trust, far to big and far too ugly.
Bearing in mind the vast numbers of properties for sale currently is anyone going to be able to get the mortgage to buy one?
Report abuse
Here we go again! Developers leak details of a ludicrous proposal on the basis that a more modest (but still deeply controversial)developement that they really want will actually be accepted without complaint. I’m fed up with this tiresome technique. It’s a very childish form of negotiation.
Report abuse
Iconic unfortunately they can do a lot more damage under the guise of development.
Money, money, money ain’t it funny in a richman’s world?
Report abuse
Mike #32 is probable spot on.
Show what the worst case would look like and we might forget to ask whether the development should even be happening at all.
Next stage in the assault – send a DVD about it to all affluent households tucked in their next
copy of Jersey Now.
Report abuse
we must never lose our hill climb.
it is part of the national motor racing
calender. and does bring tourists to the island.
we would not get another venue at all after the n i m b y s stick their oar in.
Report abuse
Excellent, some more flats that no one will be able to afford, because obviously that is what we need, and even better – it will destroy yet another beautiful location on the island. Blend in? What blends in is what is there already which is…oh wait, nothing! Which is the way it should be. The more this happens the more I dispair. No wonder so many students aren’t coming back to the island post graduation, it gets more and more rediculous, and this is yet another great example. Congrats!
Report abuse
What people need to realise is that with the present crop of big businessmen and the rich in the CoM that the environment will tend to come out second best. This is because they view things in pounds, shillings and pence. You mustn’t stand in the way of progress even if it bad for the island as a whole.
I blame the electorate for voting these sorts into office. I also blame those that don’t vote because if they did, these sorts wouldn’t get in, as most who don’t vote would vote for non-establish candidates. Come on Jersey use your vote and vote for change for the better.
No one wants flats, yet this is what invariably gets built. Why doesn’t planning just refuse to grant anymore plans for flats? They are the powers that be, what they say goes. So why don’t they police this over development much more closely, instead of bending to developers wishes for fear of upsetting them?
Another thing that amazes me is how many times big developers breach their planning permits yet still get retrospective plans passed. If I had been in charge they would have had to alter it to the plans passed not the other way round. As far as I am concerned I don’t see why the ordinary person should keep within the rules if they aren’t rigorously enforced on the big boys.
David as per the hill climb, if these flats get passed you can kiss goodbye to that. The people that will buy these million pound flats won’t want plebs racing their cars and bikes past their secluded development, even if it is just once or twice a year! You will probably find a quiet word will be spoken into the relevant big wig’s ear and that will be that. This is Jersey you know!
Report abuse
I think it looks great, plus it will create loads of jobs. Its only Bouley Bay theres loads of other beaches to go down. I say build it.
Report abuse
Why don’t the likes of the JDA, Syvret and T4C put their efforts into stopping somthing like this rather than wasting time on issues like who should be Head of La Moye School?
Report abuse
Its awful, lets have something more suitable for the site and that would last the test of time please!
Report abuse
what an eyesore!!!!
Report abuse
Mad Scouser – that is not the point.
Report abuse
Donna – what is not the point? I made a few points in my comment.
There is a consensus that the proposed flats is a bad thing, but who has actually been down to Bouley Bay – actually into the Bay in the last 3 years?
With the current recession I say build the flats, get some jobs out there. Who goes down to Bouley Bay, its only a load of old rocks. And the hill climb, theres only ever about 100 people there, most of them local drivers. As long as the flats are eco-friendly that would be my one vice, I say build them we need more houses and this disused bay is a good place for them.
Report abuse
“Water’s Edge Holdings plan to demolish the hotel, the Black Dog pub, the wood carving shop and the diving centre to build a mix of two- and three-bedroom flats.”
This is a microcosm of everything that is wrong with the direction this island has gone. Look at what is being lost. The pub, the shop, the diving centre. Bouley Bay will become nothing more than a rich man’s housing estate.
The local people, the local community, they don’t count if there is money to be made.
Just once, can we see a planning decision that takes into account the destruction of quality of life for the local community? A planning decision where Freddie Coehn has the courage to put the people of this island first, and firmly tell the developer, “No”?
Report abuse
Stunned !!!! Tilt this pastel coloured “accordian” up a slight fraction and it becomes a eight storey building in lazy Bouley Bay,what an eyesore.The Planning Department will obviously recommend refusal but will the States !!!!!.
“The Ant” Sunshine Beach Qld Australia.
Report abuse
Thank you ‘caaupand in exile’ (30), you will note that my post (3) only made reference to Organisation Todt. The 1942-45 architecture and construction was fit for purpose as a piece of military architecture and neigh on impossible to obliterate; the Gorey bunker was under the jackhammer for about two months if I remember correctly.
My concern is that we celebrated the Liberation on 9 May 1945. Our north coast is lovely and should be kept that way. Anyway, who wants a north facing balcony in a north facing valley; Trolls?
I am with Mike (33). I am also with Shauna (45). The Diving Centre and the clear waters of Jersey should be considered a tourist jewel and not a builders skip.
Report abuse
Shauna
Your comments are so right.Jersey has moved from a charming and quirky place to something rather soulless as our politicians race to transform us into “Canary Wharf sur Mer”. These flats will no doubt be bought up in the main by j-cats. Actually why don’t they go the whole hog and put up a security gate at the top of hill there!
Bouley Bay is one of the nicest places to visit on the island. I guess if you are one of the finance industry’s uber rich who live in large houses with lovely gardens and money to get off the island each weekend then its degradation might not be much of an issue and something you can live with.
Report abuse
If you want take up hillclimbing do it now cos as sure as God made little green developers the residents of this monstrosity will not want either their tranquility disturbed or their property values diminished by a bunch of local boys and girls tearing up and down their driveway four times a year !!!!!
Report abuse
i am just writing a little note to say i wonder if they would take into consideration that jersey holds a hill climb up bouley bay!!!and not just for jersey people!!!and believe that if they built 24 flats it would be a bog dissruption!!depending on where the entrance would be positioned!!
Report abuse
Red Rum would that be J-cats straight off the boat or plane? No 12 years waiting for them or for 1.1k’s, unlike the rest of humanity over here.
As reggio says the hill climb will be over once these monstrosities are built. Nevermind the developers will make lots of money and probably employ lots of non local staff as they are cheaper, so thats alright then isn’t it? This should help with our demographic time bomb shouldn’t it?
Jersey is not here for this type of development this is what you expect in Benidom not little old Jersey.
Report abuse
Horrendous!
But is this the usual strategy of asking for way too much, so that a lesser evil will get easily passed in preference (being exactly what they thought was actually reasonable in the first place)?
Report abuse
This development looks like a glorified shanty town!!
Mad Scouser 44.
Are you being serious
Where are you getting your Bouley Bay stats from for the last 3 years?
“It’s only a load of old rocks”? That’s called scenery and the environment!
It’s all good saying it will create some jobs, but no one can (and probably wouldn’t even want to) buy them so it doesn’t make economical sense to me.
Is nothing sacred in this island anymore….what next…flats on the sites of Elizabeth or Mont Orgueil castles, pave over the sand dunes (it’s only sand), flatten La Hougue Bie and build a car park (its only a mound of earth)????
Report abuse
Mad Scouser – “Its only Bouley Bay theres loads of other beaches to go down” – that is not the point, plus, people do live there. Just because you don’t go there often you don’t care.
Report abuse
Mark’s perspective Posted March 31, 2009 at 12:32 pm Thank you ‘caaupand in exile’ (30), you will note that my post (3) only made reference to Organisation Todt. The 1942-45 architecture and construction was fit for purpose as a piece of military architecture and neigh on impossible to obliterate; the Gorey bunker was under the jackhammer for about
Mark,
He doesn’t believe for one minute that some nice German is going to build bunkers on our North Coast, he was saying that at least they would be built to last, not what is getting build in the Island to-day all made out of cardboard and have to be pulled down after thirty years.
I think someone needs a humor bypass…….
Report abuse
People this is our fault…..we voted Freddie in, Freddie gets the Uk architects messrs Hopkins and McCormack involved and he isn’t going to say no.
Waterfront Hopkins
North of St Helier Hopkins
This monstrosity Mc Cormack
not heard who has been selected for the airport masterplanning or the East of Albert but I bet the above 2 are involved.
Report abuse
oh and whilst I am on my bandwagon the car park in town will be built on Anne Court because the brief given I understand basically said it had to be by default 300m from this point and 200 mtrs from that point all points lead to Ann Court!
Report abuse
Freddie hasn’t got a clue as far as I am concerned.
Report abuse
Bouleydorm
Report abuse
Adrian and others: this has absolutely nothing to do with J-cats. I am a J-Cat and work for a charity and I am sick of the J-cat bashing. People like you see things black and white. No grade of shade. No attempt to comprehend that things might be different as you want or wish them to be. That’s what destroys this world!
The plans for the flats are an embarrassment of course. Jersey is run by people with money for people with money. No culture. No modesty. No sense for the environment. No consideration for the future. A layer of differently colored paint won’t change that.
Report abuse
Clearly the States of Jersey have completely forgotten about the environment as their priorities lie elsewhere. This proposed development in Bouley Bay would be a travesty, not to mention destroying one of the most beautiful bays in the Island.
The only way to stop this sort of development going ahead is through people power. We must oppose the development on environmental grounds, in order to maintain the Jersey hill climb and to ensure that any development is sensitive to the surrounding environment.
Concrete monstrosity just doesn’t seem to be a strong enough description…. words fail me.
Report abuse
Good point 7 there are moves to get the hill climb stopped so not only will we have an eyesore but a long standing island tradition will also go!
Report abuse
everybody seems to focus in on how Bouley Bay would be destroyed by these flats.
The reality is it has already been destroyed by the hotel complex (which is now outdated) and pub e.t.c. those buildings damage the environment more so than a new purpose built eco-environment.
The hill climb would not be affected provided those that organise it protected it under local law.
Those on here who seem to think the proposed flats would destroy Bouley Bay are completely out of touch. The proposed flats would not ruin the environment anymore than the buildings already there – in fact it would probably be less damage to the environment than hundreds of tourists marching around throwing rubbish and being noisy, scaring away the wildlife.
The new development would bring jobs to the Island, create eco-friendly and sustainable homes, of which Jersey is in short supply.
Whenever change is suggested in Jersey peoples instant reaction is to cut off the blood supply into the brain and argue against it, its very inward looking and arguably pathetic.
Report abuse
Adrian @58.
What may be of more concern is if Freddie has got a clue. What is Freddie thinking of?
Report abuse
Mad Scouser these are not peculiar to Jersey and are not in keeping with the surroundings. This block of flats could be anywhere in the world. I don’t want to live in a boring mono-culture where very place I visit looks the same.
Jersey should try and maintain its heritage and not try and mirror a boring UK town like Milton Keynes. Town is appalling now no character or soul any more.
This is but another attempt to build out of character with Jersey tradition on too grand a scale. In reality these flats if given the go ahead will more than likely be bought by J-cats or rich overseas buyers as investments.
As per the hill climb there is no way on earth these sorts will want this sort of “riff raff” driving past their luxury homes even if it is only for a couple of days a year. I think once these are built you can say goodbye to the hill climb which will be very sad for Jersey.
Report abuse
When are the people who live and work in this once beautiful and unspoilt island going to wake up to the fact that these developments are not put in place for their benefit but for those with plenty of money to spend, however much it is ill-gotten. No ten year wait for them to be able to occupy
Report abuse
What a joke – so disappointing. We recently stayed at the lovely Jersey heritage let – Fort Leicester. It was great. It would have been ruined if we were looking out onto a concrete headland of cheap, tacky apartments. As much as I love Jersey, I feel the state of the island is deteriorating quickly because of human interference and redevelopment. Don’t get me wrong, redevelopment is necessary in some areas. Why not spend time improving these places rather than spoiling natural areas of beauty like Bouley Bay.
Report abuse
Adrian, so what about the Hotel thats already there! That is worse than the proposed flats!
I admire your wish to have every new building in Jersey painstakingly built with precious stone and grandiose in style and presence but, whos going to pay for Jersey to maintain its heritage – you?
The new flats will look a lot better than the broken down hotel that is there. They will have a lesser impact on the environment than the rotten hotel with all the rubbish and polution and noise the guests produce. they will create jobs and provide eco-homes.
So far the only viable argument you have come up with is that you ‘dont like the look of the flats’ – that is a personal view and subjective. I dont like the look of some of the older buidings you see in Jersey. The reality is the design is modern and I think Jersey is afraid of this.
where is the evdience that the hill climb will be lost? there is no evdience to suggest this, you are creating an issue from your own paranoia without researching it.
So, Adrian if you are going to oppose the new flats then at least give me a reason to listen to you, other than your out dated ignorant opinions which have no factual basis to them whatsoever.
Report abuse
I like them, these are true homes for local people like me, people will come from far and wide to marvel at us and our funny local ways. I’ve worked for years and even given up my home for unqualified people who have no real rights on my island, I deserve thses flats for me and my familly
Report abuse
When will the public wake up to the planning con of the century. It happens all the time with the large developments and I suspect that the Boulay Bay desecration will be no different. it goes something like this – Planning “what do you want to build” developer – “as many house or flats as possible to make as much money as we can, we don’t care about the environment or character just the money” – Planning “ok put in an application for the most hidious plans you can come up with, there will be a public outcry and the controversy will continue for some time, with lots of pressure groups and individuals complaining about how hidious it is. The application will be refused. You then come back with what you originally wanted and although still hidious and out of character with the area it will be slightly better than the first one. By then some people will have forgotten about it and others will be browbeaten into thinking its acceptable and we will say we have had to pass it due to this that and the other and you will get what you want”
You don’t believe it then just look at Portlet!!!! and many others and hasn’t it gone quite on the subject of the desecration of the fort at St Ouen??. Sadly no matter what we say another beautiful bay will be lost forever like lots of others that I spent my childhood at, all so that some gready people can worship that god that the Island has sold it soul to – money. Just try and spend a day on Boulay bay beach once its built – you will be ejected by armed guards with big dogs.
Call me cynical if you want but look around and just ask yourselves where has all that I used to love about Jersey gone – the answers on a postcard please – my answer – into the developer’s pockets.
Report abuse
Mad Scouser you can have your views that fine by me.
I believe a place should maintain and build on its heritage. Jersey’s old properties are beautifully built in granite which changes its hue with the passage of each day and season. Do you really think these old cod houses are not beautifull buildings?
As per the hotel is is an eye sore but why replace it with another that will probably be falling down in 20-30 years as nothing seems to be built to last these days?
What would you prefer:-
to live in a property that will last 300-400 years and be a master piece of engineering and build quality with some land with it. You can then pass it on to your children as a family home to be cherished with each passing generation.
or the modern shoe boxes that pass for a living space these days with no garden or room to swing a cat. Also knowing that you will need a second mortgage in 30-40 years as it may well need to be knocked down by then?
I take it you prefer modern often knocked together stuff with in built obsolesence to proper long lasting beautifully built architectural homes that will stand the test of time? Most modern design is out of place over here and more suited to ghetto style developments as far as I am concerned, with people stacked together like sardines. If you like this thats your choice, I don’t!
There is nothing wrong with new ideas but why fix something that ain’t broke? Also don’t you like to go to different places and see different builds, not all the same, boring, mono-culture builds, so prevalent in the UK? A place’s heart and soul should be maintained and not destroyed for short term game as appears to be happening all over the island at present. You might call this progress I don’t. I think it is a regression away from all that Jersey represents.
As a tourist I wouldn’t be interested in visiting Jersey if it were a carbon copy of the place I lived in. Why bother? I like to go to different places, why travel to see home?
Anyway this is what I think maybe you think the opposite and that Jersey should become a rusty, concrete and glass jungle?
Report abuse
Adrian not at all, but we have to balance idealism (granite properties) against realism (environmental impact, sustainability, cost, the need for housing, shortage of land, growing population)
Yes new builds may not be the best looking buildings in the world but with good eco-design they have a low impact on the environment.
The earth simply can no longer afford to invest the massive energy needed to sustain huge ‘easter island head’ type properties. We need fast, effective, sustainable eco-homes and more of them. These new flats attempt to address this movement, and are a symbol of Jersey moving with the times and being conscientiously aware of the environment. We should applaud the notion.
I recall a planning application in the UK, to build a wind farm offshore near North Wales. A petition was started by the public to stop the wind farm being built, on the basis that ‘it would ruin their view’. In any event they lost and the planning application went ahead. Funny enough the majority of them were pensioners, who dont care about the earth my generation will inherit.
Jersey is full of NIMBYS. if everyone was to open their mind to the new and accept change it would be a great place to live but its not. Its full of pensioners and selfish people who go for looks rather than realism.
Report abuse
These are ghastly – we have something like them in Kinsale, Ireland. But if they are built, buy one – it’s the only place you won’t be able to see them from!
Report abuse
The proposed development would be laughable were it not so sad that the intended building, like so much else that has been built in the past 40/50 years, is so out of keeping with Jersey’s built heritage. There is always a necessity to respect the environment with the materials used in the construction, as well as sensitivity to the surrounding location within which any new build is going to be set, and on either of these points this proposal does not merit any consideration.
The major tragedy is that there are now so many examples of these past planning ‘errors’, that I fear that many of the public are now immune to the sight of a further inappropriate development. Those responsible within the planning department for this environmental vandalism should be holding their heads in shame for the damage that they have permitted to be inflicted upon this and future generations of residents of Jersey.
Report abuse
May be this has all been put forward as a cunning move to open debate on banning the hill climb.
After all, they are warming the planet and not even trying to use regenerative braking on the way down.
Report abuse
Whilst I agree with Mad Scouser that we should consider the environment and lessen damage to the ecology in any way that we can, surely there must be ways to do this without creating such hideously ugly buildings as proposed for Bouley Bay.
These flats look like something planned for Tenerife, but with weeds attached. Does everything “green” have to be so visually hideous?
I confess – I am sitting here at my PC with no real idea at all as to what the current hotel and associated doomed buildings look like, but even if they are an eyesore, should we really use that as an excuse to replace them with an even bigger blot on the landscape?
I appreciate that time moves on, old has to eventually become new, and consequently buildings need to be replaced, but Jersey is small, and was at one time, pretty. Any redevelopment should have to take that into account.
On the whole (St Helier Waterfront excepting!) the sight of Jersey’s coast is stunning when viewed from out at sea. It should be preserved at all cost. This proposed development would stand out like a sore thumb.
Can’t somebody, somewhere, come up with an alternative which will satisfy the owners /developers, as well as the environmental issues at the same time?
Report abuse
I think that planning should take more time looking at the future of tourism. Keeping some hotels in these idyllic areas would be much more beneficial when it comes to enticing people to the island rather than half a dozen blocks on the waterfront next to a never ending building site.
Report abuse
Mad Scouser environmental impact, sustainability, cost, the need for housing, shortage of land, growing population.
Good points.
Environmental impact. How can building things that last 30-40 years as opposed to 300-400 years be seen as environmentally sound?
Sustainability. How can building with local materials that are readily available not be more sustainable than man made materials like plastics, or hard wood from rain forests etc?
Cost. What is cheaper 10 rebuilds over 400 years or one continuous property which is well maintained?
Need for Housing. Depends on population levels. These are too high over here hence should be reduced to cut excess damage to the environment. A by product of this would be less development and more sustainability.
Shortage of land. The same as above will be reduced by population controls.
Growing Population. The same as above. Also world wide the popualtion levels are not sustainable so I expect to see a realignment to a more realistic level which would be far below what we have now. This is the only way for sustainability of all the planets infrastructure long term. One way to help aleviate this would be for people not to consume as much. However this is very unlikely.
fast, effective, sustainable eco-homes and more of them.
Sounds good in theory but in practice another matter.
Fast often means substandard so if this is the case is no good as far as I am concerned.
Effective. What do you mean by this? Effective in that they are energy efficient and built out of sustainable materials locally sourced? If so yes.
Sustainable. Yes of cause. However to me anything built from oil derivatives or hard wood from rain forests and made overseas and transported here is unlikely to fall into this category.
To me an eco-home would be one that is:-
built to last.
built out of locally sourced materials like granite which has a long life.
a long lasting build.
well insulated.
uses alternative energy sources like wind and heat extraction from the ground.
not built from oil derivatives or non sustainable hard woods.
Also I would want any builds:-
to blend in with the environment of the place and not stand out like a sore thumb as many do at present.
Not to be high density builds, i.e. blocks of flats that no one wants to live in. This also can have negative impacts reference crime and a lack of belonging hence graffiti. Flats can turn into eye sores quite quickly as well.
Therefore on reflection and taking into account the above if you are into protecting the environment you should want buildings to be:-
of local materials to cut down on the carbon footprint.
built to last.
of good high quality materials.
well insulted with eco friendly materials and not petroleum derivatives like plastics, or hard woods from non sustaianable resources.
minimal impact on the site as possible hence no sky scrapers.
decent living space.
gardens to grow your own food and to chill out.
Also the population should be regulated to an environmentally accepted level not like at present.
You should also make use of latest technologies that are efficient and green orientated as and when they become available.
The government should sponsor efficient and environmental ideas and tax highly inefficient models in whatever area they fit into. Hence high performance large heavy consumption vehicles should ideally be prohibited, as should anything that is too disadvantagous to sustainable living. Consumerism needs to be severly curtailed as well.
Looks to me are also important because negativity always impacts on the way people treat things. Hence ugly blocks of flats will always get trashed. The environment should look nice and why not? As should everything in it.
These are my own views on things and I believe they take into account sustainability as well.
This I believe is a proper remit for sustainable living would you not agree?
Report abuse