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Extra spaces for bikes are being created in the new Horizon apartments in recognition that standards for ‘active travel’ have changed since the three-block development was approved in 2009.
Some residents, who moved in earlier this year, have complained to the Planning Department that there is not enough storage for their bicycles.
Their concerns were shared at a recent public inquiry assessing outline plans from the Jersey Development Company to build nearly 1,000 flats at the Waterfront next to Horizon.
In urging JDC to maximise the amount of bike parking in its plans for ‘South West St. Helier’, Planning Officer Chris Jones said: “Some Horizon residents have said the provision for bikes is not working as they hoped it would have.
“I understand that there is dedicated parking for no more than a few bikes at the moment, and people are relying on storage units, which are not adequate enough.
“From a planning perspective, there is nothing we can do; Horizon complies with everything in its permission.
“The fact is, requirements have changed significantly since plans for Horizon were submitted, and we would require a lot more bike storage if it was going to be built today.”
Pictured: Horizon at an earlier stage in the construction process.
When Horizon was first approved in 2010, the 280-flat development included space for 146 bikes in a basement car park, which the application said “may” be constructed.
The plans were initially submitted by developer Dandara but the project was later taken on by JDC, which put in revised plans in 2019.
Giving an update this week, JDC Chief Executive Lee Henry said: “The Horizon development is delivering 124 private stores in the basement that can be used for storing bicycles and, in addition, the legal contract requires the developer to install a minimum of 66 bicycle spaces in the communal basement areas.
“By the end of this week, we will have installed 73 bicycle spaces and we have currently identified space in the basement for at least a further 20 bicycle spaces that as the developer, we are also committing to install.
“The development will therefore provide for a total bicycle storage capacity of at least 217 bicycles.”
JDC’s plans for South West St Helier – which covers 30 acres of land between Castle Street and West Park, includes parking for 2,092 bicycles, of which 388 spaces will be provided as a ‘Commuter Cycle Hub’ to encourage more commuters using bikes.
If plans are approved, all long-stay residential cycle parking will have electric charging points.
Following the public inquiry, an independent inspector who chaired the five-day hearing will make a recommendation to a three-member panel of politicians as to whether the outline plans should be approved or not.
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