Mixed housing for South Hill

Wednesday 27 June 2018

Jersey's Environment Minister has confirmed that the prime States site on South Hill will be turned into housing, with a mix of 'open-market' and 'affordable' homes.

During yesterday’s States Assembly, Deputy John Young said the redevelopment work would effectively begin later this year, with a new 'Draft Development Framework' for south-west St. Helier.

Deputy Young told the Assembly that the States-owned South Hill site, which is managed by Jersey Property Holdings (JPH) through the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has been ear-marked for redevelopment for a while. He told the States: “It is in the built-up area and has long been identified as suitable for alternative use and housing development being the preferred use.

Pictured: The Planning Minister confirms redevelopment of South Hill site as part of a new framework for South-West St Helier (Google Maps).

“This site will be identified as an opportunity site within the Draft New South-West St Helier Development Framework which will shortly be published via public consultation in September.”

This news follows the recent report from the Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) Karen McConnell, who strongly criticised the management and efficiency of JPH.

Pictured: States watchdog and C&AG Karen McConnell condemned "silo mentality" of JPH in a recent report.

The offices currently house States workers from the Planning and Building, the Met Office and members of DfI. The Minister said: “I support their relocation, subject to suitable premises being identified, particularly ensuring public access to Planning and Building officers in future.

“Property Holdings yesterday informed my department that there is currently no plan in place, but they are in the process of considering possible interim options for relocation which would allow early redevelopment opportunities of South Hill to be taken.”

Deputy Young faced further questioning from Deputy Montfort Tadier, who asked him whether he agreed with comments that the South Hill site is "...too good for social housing."

Pictured: Deputy Young was quizzed about the nature of the housing development by Reform Jersey member, Deputy Tadier.

In response, Deputy Young said: “This has long been an issue and the South Hill site has got spectacular views, some of the finest in the island… The reality is we’ve got one joined up government now and I think the role of the Environment Minister will be to produce a development brief for that site, setting out the designs for it. 

“There are parts of the site which have magnificent views and there are parts of the site which face the rock face. My preference is to have a mix, to have open-market housing and some affordable housing so that the development works as a whole, but that is my personal view, it will be up to the joined-up government and the Housing Minister and his team to make those decisions.”

Deputy Tadier then followed up with: “I hope that I don’t read incorrectly between the lines in suggesting that the mixed development will have sea-views for private residents and that any social tenants will be facing a sheer rockface.”

Pictured: The redevelopment at South Hill is part of a wider framework for South-West St. Helier, including La Collette, the Port and Waterfront areas.

Deputy Young replied: “The Deputy is absolutely right, not everybody will get the same facilities on the site; that’s what design’s all about, but I think the principle of mixed-use is right. How it’s divvied up will be a question for a process which is well downstream.”

The redevelopment of the South Hill offices will bring Ministers one step closer to realising plans for a Whitehall-style States structure, with around 750 civil servants from different departments under one roof.