States of Guernsey’s Development and Planning Authority have recently turned down plans to build four new flats and three houses on Mount Durand.
The planning application, which was submitted by developer SFD, was rejected because authorities said the design of the new homes didn’t fit with the area.
A report from the authority reads: ‘The site lies within a conservation area in which it is the duty of the Development and Planning Authority to pay special attention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing its character or appearance.’
Within the application, developers suggested demolishing existing buildings on Mount Durand and building the new homes to the north and east of the site.
SFD aimed to construct a terrace of houses to the rear of the site, but the States said the scale of the properties was ‘substantially larger than other buildings in the locality and with blank gables which do not represent a high standard of design.’
The States told the BBC, who were first to report on this story: ‘The proposed development, by reason of its design mass and scale, would detract from the setting of the adjoining protected buildings and prove detrimental to the special interest of the protected buildings of architectural and historic interest contrary to Policy GP5 of the Island Development Plan.’
However, the latest figures show Guernsey needs a considerable number of new homes within the next two years if they are to meet housing targets. By 2027, around 1,565 properties need to be built, which includes both private and affordable housing.
Photo by Dave Lowe via UnSplash
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