Platte Saline project controversial

PLANS for a 10-home development at Alderney's Platte Saline have met with controversy.

Residents near the suggested Alderney Housing Association site by the seafront have organised a survey to canvas opinion on the proposal ahead of a planning committee meeting on 6 June.

Originally only eight properties were planned, but the number of homes earmarked for the £1m. flagship project has crept up to 10. It is the biggest housing development to take place on the island in many years.

Residents are concerned that views and house prices will be affected, as will traffic in the area.

'Originally we were told there were going to be eight bungalows and now there are 10 houses,' said resident Allen Jones.

'It might look like a big plot of land, but it's not. They are going to have to build the houses right up to everybody's private walls.

'Another major factor is that the high spring tide floods the road – that is why you get seaside gardens there, because they can't grow any grass.'

He said there was no shortage of empty accommodation on Alderney.

'We haven't got a gypsy encampment here. There are lots of empty houses in Alderney. Why are we building more houses at great expense?'

He said the site was also the habitat for lots of flora and fauna.

'Horn poppy, sea kale, plovers nest there and it's the only designated beach where you can walk your dog in the summer,' he said. 'There are many of us who feel it should be left as it is.'

Resident John Cadoret said there were already reports that nearby homes had dropped in value and he had grave doubts about the scheme.

'I don't think this is a good idea environmentally or financially,' he said.

'It is high-density housing in a low-density area. It will undoubtedly affect property prices.

'There is a house near the development which had £30,000 wiped off its value when it was announced that the site was going to be built on. They say that only three people's views will be affected, but it will actually affect the whole arc of houses around the development.'

One of the major design aims has been to give the properties the look of private housing, which meant avoiding building in terraces.

The energy-efficient development takes the form of two three-bedroom homes, four two-bed houses and four one-bed properties and all will have parking for two cars. Traditional Alderney pastel-coloured stone will be used, with each property being given its own identity including a brightly-painted entrance echoing a beach hut.

Whatever goes on the site there will be issues with neighbours' views, said Darren Keung of Hamon Architects.

'But we've done our best to try to maintain their views.

'Properties don't have a right to views, just light, but we are trying to develop them with the most neighbour-friendly scheme possible.'

A tarmac access road will run into the development from Picaterre . The houses' driveways will face each other, with block paving in between, as in a clos.

Semi-mature trees will be planted to screen the homes and several properties are to be sold on a partial ownership basis.

'We would like to go to tender by summer, to local Alderney contractors – subject to sensible tenders – and finish by next

year,' said AHA chief executive Steve Williams.

Residents are advised to lodge any objections with the Building and Development Control Committee.