Guernsey Press

DPA to decide on controversial plans for homes at La Pointe

THE end might be in sight for a developer who has been trying to build housing on a Vale field for the last two years.

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The latest application for two houses to be built on the trianglular field off Braye Road in the Vale has been backed by planners. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 28731815)

Hillstone Gsy Ltd has submitted two previous applications to develop La Pointe – a triangular field on Braye Road.

Both of them – one for eight houses and one for six – were both refused by Planning.

The latest application – for two houses – is set to go before an open planning meeting.

The planners have recommended the project get permission, but the outgoing Development & Planning Authority political board will have the final say at the meeting.

It is proposed that two three-bedroom houses be created on the 0.2 hectare agricultural field.

The junction between La Mare Pellees and Braye Road would be changed and a new feature

wall, with the parish crest, be created.

Like the previous three applications, this one attracted a number of objections from neighbours.

In total there were 19 letters, including three from deputies.

They were concerned about the loss of green space and increased traffic congestion, as well as the homes being at risk of flooding and being unaffordable.

There were also four letters of support, saying that the revised, scaled-back scheme was a good compromise.

In analysing the plans against the Island Development Plan, it was noted that the site was within the Bridge main centre outer area, where new residential building is allowed. The field is not designated as important open land or an agricultural priority area. While it was investigated to class the land as important open area, it was decided it was very small and did not connect with any other open land.

While there is a tree protection order on a number of the trees around the field, this does not prevent some development. In this case the trees would be retained.

It was noted that there was a need for two and three bedroom houses.

The report states that if permission is granted, there will be 17 conditions on it. These include installing and maintaining bird, bat and hedgehog boxes and undertaking landscaping work.

  • The meeting will take place at 9.30am on Thursday in the Delancey/Cambridge room at Beau Sejour.