‘They’re building the wrong houses’

The Development & Planning Authority has approved planning guidance on how major sites at Pointues Rocques, St Sampson’s and Le Maresquet, Vale, can be developed in the face of significant public concern.

It says that between 75 and 125 dwellings could be built at Pointues Rocques, which is near Delancey Park, down 25 on what was originally indicated after public responses.

Resident Russel Doherty said he had no objection to building on the site but said they are building too many houses.

‘The traffic is the major concern,’ he said.

‘The access in and access out can’t cope, we have traffic problems around here already.

‘The houses are the wrong type, there are so many new build houses at the moment which are sat empty.

‘Yes we need more properties but they are the wrong houses and the density of where they are building is too great.’

Another resident, Martin Corbet, also said that he did not disagree with developing the site, but over 100 properties was too many.

‘When Vale Road was being worked on these lanes were absolute mayhem,’ he said.

‘I think they will have to think about the traffic really seriously as the roads just aren’t big enough.

‘They are building the wrong kind of houses, unfortunately the people that build here don’t consider that, they just want to make a fast buck.’

One issue expressed by the public during the consultation period was that the north of the island was already overdeveloped.

In total, 90 responses were submitted to the development framework, which had already been revised once to take account of traffic concerns.

A planning application has been on hold while the guidance was consulted on and that will now need to be refined to reflect the result.

It is likely a decision on whether to give the go ahead would be made at an open planning meeting.

Le Maresquet is a field close to the power station.

It is anticipated the site will be able to accommodate between 21 and 38 dwellings.

The consultation period resulted in 17 comments from the public and representations from deputies Laurie Queripel and Matt Fallaize on behalf of parishioners.

Some of the issues raised included disproportionate development within the north, the impacts on already overstretched services, resources and infrastructure within the area and the loss of greenfield land.

A third development framework has been approved at the site of the English & Guernsey Arms.

The main issues raised through the consultation period related to technical matters in relation to a Major Hazards Public Safety Zone, potential archaeological finds, noise impact on residents, planting of native species, the provision of amenity space, parking and design quality.