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La Frégate Café– which was awarded Grade 2 listed status in November – will be raised on jacks and moved 200m to the northwest, according to plans recently submitted for approval.
The distinctive wooden building was built in 1997 and has become a landmark between West Park and Jardins de la Mer.
However, when Jersey Development Company unveiled its ambitious plans for the Waterfront in 2021, which includes around 1,000 flats, a ‘gateway’ tower, an arthouse cinema and a new leisure complex, La Frégate was conspicuous by its absence.
Drawings showed a café and kiosk ticket zone near West Park, amphitheatre seating, a playground, a ‘flexible’ lawn space and seating – but not the 33-metre cedar-clad eatery.
This prompted campaigners, including local architect Derek Mason who helped design it, to lobby for its listing.
Pictured: La Frégate café was preciously absent from visuals of JDC's Waterfront plans.
Towards the end of last year, the Government announced its Grade 2 protection, following a recommendation from Jersey Heritage.
In response, JDC said it would work on new plans to find a "positive solution".
Now the States-owned developer has responded to that listing, submitting new documents to its detailed planning application for its Southwest St. Helier proposals.
A structural assessment on moving the café states: “It is recommended that the relocation of the building consist of jacking the building off the supporting discrete piers, constructing a chassis under the building, transporting on a constructed track and reseating on new structure at the proposed new location. Variations of this recommendation are possible.
“The purposed relocation is a practically feasible option in structural engineering terms that retains the structural integrity and overall form of the building, thus protecting its architectural significance to the greatest possible extent.”
Pictured: Placards carried by architect Derek Mason and his supporters during a surprise protest on his birthday last summer.
It adds: “Repairs to the building should be expected to be required following the relocation.
“While not specifically structural, the building appears to have durability issues with the cladding and the adequacy of weathering at openings. Damage from water ingress is evident internally.
“Replacement of the cladding should be expected given that the building is understood to be constructed in c.1997.
“Sealing of the cladding would require careful consideration due to the changing vertical profile of the façades. The weathering around openings will also require attention. Corroding walkways will also require to be replaced. Change to more durable cladding and external steelwork is advisable.”
The proposed new location is further around the bay, towards Victoria Avenue, on yet-to-be-reclaimed land.
The JDC plans propose extinguishing the current slipway used by the castle amphibious vehicles and building a new beach access further to the northwest, which would be parallel to the relocated café.
Mr Mason, who supported the late Will Alsop in designing La Frégate, has argued that that it will fall apart if attempts are made to move it.
FOCUS: Waterfront transformation plans take shape
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