Permission given for housing on the site of former pub
WORK could start this summer to redevelop the former English & Guernsey Arms site, after planning permission for housing was granted.
HVC Ltd applied to create erect seven houses and 12 flats on the Southside site.
After more than six months’ consideration, the planners have given the go ahead.
Managing director Mark Farey said the company was delighted to have received permission.
‘We saw real potential in this site, and indeed the wider Bridge area, and an opportunity to construct a landmark building with high aesthetic value, yet in keeping with the local surroundings,’ he said.
‘Naturally, there is a lot of preparatory work to be undertaken in advance of a major project such as this, however we could feasibly commence works on site as early as Q2 2023.’
It is proposed that there is a block of 12 flats fronting onto South Quay.
A separate four-storey flat roof building, comprising a terrace of seven dwellings, would be situated along the rear boundary.
A communal terrace, with small private patios for the terraced houses, would be in the middle of site, above the parking area.
A communal garden would be created in the eastern section of the site, and this would include the protected evergreen oak in the old car park, which is being kept.
A protected sweet chestnut tree at the back of the site would be removed.
‘The loss of the sweet chestnut tree would have the effect of thinning out the green canopy on South Quay, however this effect on greenery would be offset by the proposed landscaping scheme which includes trees along the South Quay road frontage which would be more visible from public view than the existing sweet chestnut tree,’ the planners said in their considerations.
St Sampson’s constables backed the plans.
‘It is well designed and will enhance the Southside area of the Bridge,’ they wrote.
‘It will hopefully be a precursor to the long awaited regeneration of the Bridge, which is long overdue.
‘We have however been contacted by local businesses who point out that the site is bounded on three sides by commercial and industrial businesses.
‘They sincerely hope their businesses will not be restricted in regards to working hours, noise and dust, now or in the future, should Planning deem this site suitable for residential dwellings.’
The Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation noted that the applicant had submitted a noise assessment with the application and said it showed that proposed housing units would be subject to a potential significant impact from noise arising from industrial units close to the site.
‘The report makes recommendations regarding glazing and ventilation for the proposed units,’ Environmental Health wrote.
A condition was on the approval that the development comply with the report to protect residents from the noise.
There are more than 20 conditions on the permission, many of which relate to the need for more details on the project before work begins.
