The Charroterie site has sat empty while various plans have been drawn up over the years.
But following the swift approval of May’s submission for two six-storey buildings and a three-storey linking element around a courtyard, work can now move ahead.
GHA chief operating officer Lisa de Kooker said it was committed to progressing developments that provided high-quality, affordable homes for islanders.
‘The granting of planning permission on the former CI Tyres site is a very positive step forward for all involved,’ she said.
‘We’re grateful for the quick turnaround, which was possible due the submission of a very detailed planning application and also helped by the site’s prior planning approval following an open planning meeting, which set some key principles for us to follow from the outset.’
She said the GHA would now review the 21 planning conditions carefully and progress the construction tender.
‘This will support us in preparing the final development proposal for consideration by GHA’s board, and then the States of Guernsey,’ she said. ‘Once we have this approval, construction can commence.’
The approved scheme includes 60 one-bedroom and nine two-bedroom homes.
In the planning report, one representation was made, with the person saying the new project was an improvement on previous plan for a 10-storey tower block, which they had felt was grotesque.
Traffic & Highway Services noted that La Charroterie was one of the three main road routes into Town, with about 7,800 vehicle movements on the average weekday.
This compares with 9,900 on St Julian’s Avenue and about 6,000 on Le Val des Terres.
The road has regular bus services, with a bus stop 75m from the development.
THS said this site was in a good position within the main centre of St Peter Port.
‘The pedestrian infrastructure around this location provides a network of public footways and pedestrian crossings into the town centre,’ it noted in the planning report.
‘There are a good range of amenities and services including schools, doctors, pharmacy, dentists, grocery stores, food outlets etc. all within a 10 to 12-minute walking distance of the proposed site.’
The developmentplans include 80 long-stay and 10 short-stay cycle parking spaces, and THS said it was important to have safe storage and charging facilities for e-bikes on site.
No on-site car parking is proposed.
Another GHA block of flats nearby – Cour du Parc, with 50 apartments – has only five parking spaces, but has not faced issues. THS did note that about 50 vehicles, including motorbikes, are registered to the address, suggesting that the lack of dedicated parking had not resulted in very low vehicle ownership rates but equally, there have been no issues raised with residents unable to find parking during the day.
THS did note that it would be necessary for public parking spaces nearby to be designated to facilitate accessible parking, un/loading and shared mobility.
Planning officers welcomed the new building's appearance.
‘The proposed development is a coherent and high-quality architectural composition, which demonstrates effective and efficient use of land,’ they said in the report.
‘The scheme assimilates with the topography and landscape setting of the site. The proposed materials are appropriate to the context and setting.’
They did raise some concerns about the height, with the building taller than the nearby protected buildings, but felt the benefit of the homes would outweigh that harm.
Subject to a successful contractor tender process and approval of the final development proposal, construction is expected to begin in early 2026, with completion anticipated by the end of 2027.
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