Another Planning fiasco

Saturday 4th July 2009, 3:00PM BST.

From Matthieu Falle.
IT is extremely sad and depressing when monstrous building projects are given the go-ahead in such beautiful coastline areas as Le Saie.

What happened here – what is the point of having a Planning Department? How can any development even be considered in an area as naturally pristine as Le Saie?

Planning is there to protect Jersey’s natural beauty – primarily its coastline. Now Le Saie, such a beautifully natural area, has been severely affected.

I had seen this development going up and was alarmed that it was going ahead. Your aerial photo (JEP, 2 July) shows how seriously misjudged the building project is. We don’t need to wait until it’s finished to know that it’s a travesty for the area. Art-Deco designs may be in fashion but this particular design is completely out-of-place in an area like Le Saie.

With such coastal building developments, do Planning give any thought about how the coastline will look from the sea? In this case it seems they don’t, because anyone who knows this area will know that an Art-Deco style building of this size is simply going to look ridiculous.

The problem with all this is, the damage is being done, and no one is held responsible. This type of practice has to change if we are to avert future mistakes. Demotion, dismissal or financial fines – anything that would prevent such fiascos.

Jersey’s most valuable asset is its natural beauty, and its coastline should not be compromised.
Progress Stores,
Dicq Road,
St Saviour.

1
Hautlieu Liberal

July 5, 2009 at 10:59 am

The writer is absolutely right, we have yet another hideous, out of place planning disaster. Thank you Senator Cohen.

The sad fact is that any sensible planning restrictions seem to disappear the bigger and more ostentatious the building.

As elsewhere in the world, those with money and influence are buying up the views and purloining our natural heritage for themselves and their “iconic” developments. Breathtaking views for the inhabitants of these buildings but a Radisson-like experience for the rest of us.

Enjoy the coastline while you can. There’s money here and it wants a clifftop perch.

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2
Green Bean

July 5, 2009 at 6:58 pm

La Coupe always used to be a quiet unspoilt corner of our little Rock until this massive development started and since then there is continuous noise from drills and machinery all day and lorries going up and down the small lane … no part of Jersey is immune to the destructive desire of Planning, Cohen and greedy developers!

Until Planning and Environment are separated and the natural world has its own political voice this disgraceful despolation of our quickly diminishing countryside will only continue.

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3
Pip Clement

July 6, 2009 at 11:34 am

I went and looked at the Le Saie at the weekend.
The old view was of a bay almost totally undeveloped, all that could be seen was the navigation aid on the rock at the end.
Now there is a huge building looming over the bay.
The developers are planning landscaping but short of using a massive amount of camoflage netting I doubt that they will be able to hide it.
How can they be allowed to demolish a cottage and build a huge four bedroom house on the North coast?

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4
Nick

July 14, 2009 at 12:10 pm

1. Hautlieu Liberal how right you are. I can remember driving along Victoria Avenue in the 1960′s with my father and pointing out a building site on the skyline at the top of what was then an agricultural field (Cotee)and saying to him “I thought they (Planning)had said they would not allow development along the skyline between St Helier and St Aubin?” And his response was “They’ll never allow that it’s all agricultural and will spoil the look of the Island”. Drive now between St Helier and St Aubin, and you will be hard pressed to even see a green field, other than someone’s sizeable garden!All for the view of St Aubin’s and Elisabeth Castle!
The same could be said to have happened at Havre des Pas in the 1960′s, and recently Planning had an opportunity to open up and reclaim what had been a lost of a view of the sea between Green St. and the Swimming Pool but instead has allowed a massive private luxury flat development where previously there was a garden and a one storey bistro restaurant. We are one step away from the Promenade there being fenced off with security barriers marked “Private Access only” (Watch that space). And if ever there was a chance to reclaim a seaview it was when the La Plage ceased to be a Hotel. Some of those reserve funds spent wisely at that time to acquire and demolish that (BA) building would have opened up that whole area (Both to view and to sunlight) and allowed small businesses some access to a seaside location actually in the town! And the Promenade behind could have thrived.
Seaviews have suddenly become “The thing” and most definately add value to any development. That is why all development to the SW of St Helier should be restricted in height, particularly on reclaimed land.Otherwise huge Manhattan and Dubai type structures will put the whole of St Helier as we know it at present in the shade after 1pm for about 9 months of the year!
There is also a need for vigilance where any seaview location is subject to a planning application.No one is saying a blanket “No” policy should be enforced, common sense re natural light and over development (height & density) should prevail.

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