Les Sablons could be in "jeopardy" due to 15% affordable homes rule

Tuesday 21 May 2024

Development of “vital” housing units and an apart-hotel on Broad Street could be in jeopardy due to a rule which requires that 15% of its homes are “affordable” for islanders.

Deputy Max Andrews asked Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham in this morning’s States sitting whether the 15% requirement could be reduced to allow the Les Sablons development to go ahead.

Developers Le Masurier risked making "no economic profit" if made to abide to the rule, he said.

The viability of the development will remain in limbo until the Housing Minister returns from a conference in St Helena and resumes talks with the developer, the Chief Minister said.

Pictured: An artist's impression of Les Sablons' central courtyard. (Le Masurier)

The much-discussed development of 238 apartments and a 103-room apart-hotel built on 2½ acres between Broad Street and Commercial Street was a staple of the headlines last year due a long-running planning saga.

The application was initially refused by the Planning Committee – a panel of politicians – in December 2022.

After the development was refused, Le Masurier put forward an appeal and an independent planning expert said the development should be able to go ahead.

But Assistant Environment Minister Hilary Jeune nonetheless decided to reject it in a move that sparked significant backlash – including a controversial public statement from then-Chief Minister Kristina Moore expressing her extreme disappointment.

When Le Masurier then launched a further fight via the Royal Court, it was later confirmed that, following legal advice, Deputy Jeune would not be fighting the appeal and that she had accepted the decision was "unlawful".

The then-Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet later gave the green light to the development.

In January, Le Masurier managing director Brian McCarthy said that the cost of the scheme had risen significantly while they waited for a decision.

He added that there was no start date for construction of the Les Sablons development – and that timescales needed to be "reassessed" following the recent approval of the plans.

It was also confirmed that taxpayers would have to foot the bill for the developer's legal costs, but it later emerged that the full cost to the public purse was to remain a secret due to a confidential legal agreement.

Pictured: The proposed view of the development from Charing Cross. (Le Masurier)

Speaking in this morning's sitting, the Chief Minister said that the Government received a letter from the Les Sablons developers at the end of April about concerns over the 15% affordable homes requirement.

Deputy Farnham said discussions with Le Masurier to resolve the matter were a "high priority" for Housing Minister Sam Mezec when he returns from his trip to St Helena for the British Islands and Mediterranean Region Conference.

The CPA British Islands and Mediterranean Region Conference officially began earlier today in Jamestown, St Helena.

A range of topics were discussed throughout the day, which included digital reforms and artificial intelligence @CPA_UK#StHelena #CPA #BIMR pic.twitter.com/3R4ZYvspOq

— St Helena Government (@StHelenaGovt) May 20, 2024

Deputy Farnham said: "The Housing Minister is due back imminently, and this matter will be dealt with in acceptable time."

He said he would not use his executive powers to deal with the issue in Deputy Mezec's absence.

The Chief Minister said: "The Housing Minister would like to discuss further with developers, with a view to reaching a common position on the mix of types of residential.

"I shall be urging him to work swiftly with this, so that we don't jeopardise the development, to provide a solution or a good compromise as soon as possible.

"I have full confidence in the Housing Minister that an agreement will be reached, and I very much hope the development can start as soon as possible."

Environment Minister Steve Luce, also asked by Deputy Andrews about the project, said that discussions had been taking place inside and outside his department about the Les Sablons development.

He said: "Obviously, the site is of huge importance and significance to St Helier. The plans contained a large number of units for housing which are vital, and also contained a hotel, which is vital to our tourist industry.

"I will do what I can to make sure the development on that site comes to fruition. The last thing we need there is for that to become a surface level car park for the next ten years."