But the latest scheme would be lower than the previous proposal. Guernsey Housing Association chief executive Vic Slade said she thought this design was the right one for the site.
‘It was a bit “back to the drawing board”,’ she said, acknowledging that the previously approved scheme for a 10-storey tower block of 57 flats from 2024 had provoked a strong push back.
‘There was a lot of controversy about the height, so we looked at the area and the buildings already there. One of the inspirations was the old marmalade factory in Trinity Square, so now we have a design that blends better, and makes best use of the space.’
The new proposal has two six-storey apartment buildings and a handful of courtyard houses, with 60 one-bedroom and nine two-bedroom homes.
The project was originally flagged for key workers, but Ms Slade said they were now working ‘tenure blind’, meaning that the homes would be built based on the States Strategic Housing Indicator and then it would be decided who needs them when the project was completing.
Currently the indicator states that the island needs smaller homes.
‘We’re acutely aware of the need to make meaningful contributions to meeting local housing need,’ she said.
She hoped the public would like the new plans.
‘The plans are so different. We want to have a positive design and we believe this is it. It will be a C shape and stepped at the back and a number of storeys lower [than the previous design].
‘It will also have less impact on the skyline and have less of a blocky tower block look.’
The site has been in development limbo since the former tyre business shut in about 2013, when it was bought by a private developer. Plans for 16 apartments and block of three terraced dwellings were approved in 2012. Various larger schemes were later approved, but never progressed.
Then in 2022 the GHA bought the site for £1.7m., with the assistance of funding from the capital grant awarded by the States to the Affordable Housing Development Programme.
The GHA initially secured permission for a three-and-a-half storey building containing 25 flats in 2022, but this was superseded by plans for a six-storey and 10-storey buildings, containing 57 one-bedroom flats, which were approved in 2024. It had been hoped that the work would start in October last year.
But increasing pressures on housing led to a redesign to maximise density.
Ms Slade said the cliff behind the site needed to be stabilised before any work could start.
‘We plan to start this essential work in June so the site is ready as soon as planning permission is hopefully secured.’
The indicative development proposal has the support from the Employment & Social Security and Policy & Resources Committees.
Subject to planning approval, and subsequent approval of the final development proposal, development is expected to start in early 2026, with completion in the third quarter of 2027.
The plans are due to be available to view online soon.
You need to be logged in to comment. If you had an account on our previous site, you can migrate your old account and comment profile to this site by visiting this page and entering the email address for your old account. We'll then send you an email with a link to follow to complete the process.