Guernsey Housing Association, which is behind the plans, said that islanders needed homes more than cars. The latest plans for the site have now gone live on the States website and reveal how the ambitious redevelopment could create 60 one-bed flats and nine two-storey homes across two six-storey apartment buildings on the former CI Tyres site, with a handful of courtyard houses.
The previous 10-storey scheme put forward by the GHA had 20 car parking spaces.
Chief executive Vic Slade said that creating parking would not be the best use of the limited space on the site. ‘This is town centre living,’ she said.
‘Do we need homes or do we need parking? Would people rather have more homes or more cars? And that is where we are. We need more homes.’
She said that the GHA would look at options for unloading areas and possibly a car-sharing scheme, while evening parking at Frossard House could be an option to help.
Nearby Cour du Parc also has very limited parking, and Ms Slade said that had never been a problem.
Limited space has also meant limited green spaces. A bridge was included in the previous design to link the tower block to woodland behind. However this is not part of the new proposal.
Ms Slade said that there would be a communal courtyard on the site, which would be partially paved.
‘There will be some planting to break it up and soften it and make it a nice place to be,’ she said.
‘It will hopefully be a community space that people can use. Blocks can often be quite sterile and cold. But we want to create a sense of community.’
Ms Slade said sustainability was also a big part of the new scheme. That included good insulation and solar panels, which would be used to offset the power used in communal spaces and keep tenants costs down.
It is hoped building work on the development will start early next year. Ms Slade said that she was not worried about finding a builder for the scheme. Tender documents are being prepared.
‘We expect a lot of interest in such a high-profile scheme,’ she said.
It is not known how long a planning decision could take, but Ms Slade said that the GHA had tried to work with planners and address issues before submitting its plans. She did not expect the application to have to go before an open planning meeting for a decision.
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