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The Environment Minister has put forward plans to protect some of Jersey’s most iconic areas with new planning rules, more than 30 years after the idea was first suggested.
Deputy John Young wants to designate certain zones of “special architectural or historic interest” as ‘Conservation Areas.'
The plan would involve creating rules that restrict certain types of development or changes to properties in each area – anyone breaking the rules would be liable to a fine of up to £1,000.
If the idea gets the backing of the States Assembly when it goes to a vote in September, Deputy Young – himself a St. Brelade Deputy – wants St. Aubin to be protected first.
After this, Havre des Pas, Gorey, some parts of town, the island’s small harbours, and parish church surroundings and agricultural hamlets could all follow.
Pictured: The Environment Minister wants St. Aubin to be Jersey's first ever Conservation Area. (Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive)
Property tweaks that could be subject to controls range from windows and doors to roof coverings and fences, among others.
“Historic windows and doors bear witness to the artistic, social, cultural, economic and technological developments of the past. Their design and detailing were influenced by contemporary architectural fashion and reflected the status of the building and, often, the rooms within it. Their style, detailing and materials help us to understand when a building was constructed or altered, its function and advances in related technology,” the draft short-term Island Plan, which will act as a blueprint for development until 2025, explains.
“A change to the style or appearance of windows or doors can disrupt the overall appearance and harmony of a building. The impact of change can be dramatic and of detriment not only to the individual historic building but also to the character of townscape and landscape which can, cumulatively, undermine the character, identity and distinctiveness of the island.
“Unfortunately, much damage has already been done and the character of many of our buildings, and consequently our island’s heritage, has been eroded by the installation of modern, unsympathetic windows and doors in historic buildings.”
Pictured: Havre des Pas is next in line to receive special protection. (Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive)
The idea has been welcomed by the Planning Department’s former Assistant Director for Design and Conservation, Stuart Fell, who these days gives monthly walks and talks about the island’s historic townscape for the Société Jersiaise.
Mr Fell told Express that he hoped the creation of such zones would lead to better protection for Listed buildings and dilapidated local architectural gems featuring on Société’s recently created ‘Buildings at Risk Register’, which includes La Folie, St. Saviour’s Hospital, La Folie and 12 Simon Place, a late Georgian town house with original exterior features.
The idea isn’t a new one, he noted.
Giving historic zones legal protection against ‘undesirable’ changes was originally proposed in 1987 in Jersey, but never materialised.
Earlier this year, Deputy Young explained that he had hoped to bring several changes to the Planning Law sooner, but that covid and Brexit had got in the way.
Pictured: La Folie, which is on the Société's Buildings at Risk Register. (Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive)
Despite 34 years passing between the idea first being floated and finally making its way to the States Chamber for debate, Express understands there is concern among the local architectural community that the idea has been rushed into the next Island Plan without full consideration of how Conservation Area rules would be applied.
It is unclear in the Island Plan, for example, whether rules would cover development of non-public-facing parts of a property – inside and towards the back.
If Jersey needs an example of how Conservation Areas could work, it only need look across the water, according to Mr Fell.
“They’ve had [Conservation Areas] for 20 years at least: six Conservation areas in Guernsey. If Guernsey can do it, I don’t know why Jersey shouldn’t. This emanated from England… they’ve got 10,000 Conservation Areas - 10,000!” he explained.
“There’s lots of advice as to how to manage them from Historic England, which is the Government body, so it’s not like it’s difficult to do it.”
If such zones are given the green light, local architect Mike Waddington suggested the Percentage For Art (PFA) scheme could be used in a more creative way to assist with “placemaking” - adding features that enhance the bond between people and locations.
“We’re all guilty of it – putting a piece of art on a building because the developer was saying, ‘That will make my building more valuable.’
“If there were two or three large developments that collectively captured a piece of public realm, why not pool their PFA to create something that really enhances the wider context they’re in rather than the individual building?”
Over time, this will ensure new development doesn’t diminish the island’s distinctive character, help vibrancy to areas like Jersey’s historic ports, and possibly give rise to town areas with different “flavours” – attractive for exploring tourists, Mr Fell and Mr Waddington both noted.
As Jersey prepares to enter its most significant development period in living memory, with the future hospital, Fort Regent, new Government HQ and housing crisis all yet to be dealt with, Connect Magazine investigated how unlocking ‘Jerseyness’ in architecture will be pivotal…
Pictured top: View of Havre des Pas, St Helier with promenade, beach and footbridge to bathing pool, printed as postcard. (Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive)
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