A development framework was approved for the 12-acre site two years ago. It includes the old tobacco factory, Balmoral Vinery, the College of FE Coutanchez site, and part of Vrangue Manor.
Andre Rolfe-Bisson, founder of A7 Architecture, who proposed the collaborative model, said he hoped it could be a blueprint for work from local firms on future large sites.
‘It’s about setting egos aside and using our collective experience to remove the barriers that have held this site back,’ he said.
‘We live and work here – we know the land, we understand the constraints, and we see the opportunities.
‘If this model works at La Vrangue, it could be applied to other stalled housing sites that require master planning.’
As well as A7, other architectural firms PF+A, CCD, DLM, JGA and Lovell Ozanne have all contributed to develop a masterplan for mixed housing – including apartments, sheltered housing, and affordable homes – built around green spaces and integrated with active travel networks.
‘The combined perspectives and talents lead to an innovative and thoughtful solution. It wasn’t necessarily designing floor plans, it’s about density and infrastructure. How do you get from east to west without making it a rat run, while making it a nice place to live with green open spaces? We thought it was an exciting opportunity for all of us to use our local knowledge and past experiences.’
70% of the site is owned privately by Balmoral Estates, with the remaining 30% under States ownership.
The site is separate from the Pitronnerie Road field, also earmarked for housing, although Mr Rolfe-Bisson said they were looking at road and traffic improvements in the area as a whole.
Working from the same brief, each practice produced an outline scheme.
Then last month each practice presented their scheme to developers and representatives from the States Property Unit. Following their feedback, the strongest elements will be combined into a masterplan for the development of the La Vrangue site.
‘Our biggest fear was that we’d end up with six schemes that all looked marginally the same,’ he said.
‘But they were all completely different, and each one had some really cool elements and some really imaginative solutions that you could merge into a whole.
‘I think the clients have got a really good outcome from this first stage of having six different creative minds put their ideas down on paper.
‘Rather than appointing off-island consultants, this project keeps the expertise local, drawing on practices that understand Guernsey’s landscape, infrastructure, and community needs. This is a blueprint that could be replicated for future land development across the island.’
Mr Rolfe-Bisson said they hoped to have the masterplan ready to be submit to planning in the next 12 months but it could well be some time before work is ready to start on the site.
‘Being 30-odd years in the business, these things don’t happen quickly, and it’s not from want of trying.
‘But you’ve got to make sure the infrastructure is there.
‘You’ve got to deal with any land contamination, and flooding, so you could be looking at five years before we are pouring foundations.’
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