Luxury home taking shape in St. Ouen's Bay 13 years after permission

Thursday 01 September 2022

A six-bedroom luxury home is currently being built in the heart of St Ouen’s Bay, after planning permission was granted 13 years ago.

An application to build the property on the site of the former Sunset Nurseries to the south of Val de La Mare reservoir was submitted in 2008 and approved a year later, under the policies of the 2002 Island Plan.

It sits within the Coastal National Park, which was created after the application was passed.

The glasshouses, sheds and other outbuildings which had constituted the nursery were demolished soon after permission was granted, and substantive piling and foundation works were carried out. 

Pictured: A image of the development now taking shape looking west.

This constituted the beginning of development before the project was put on hold.

This is why permission remains live more than a decade after it was given.

Currently, planning permission lasts for three years, although it was for five years in 2009.

Pictured: Glasshouses, sheds and other outbuildings were demolished soon after permission was granted, but construction is only happening now. (Gary Grimshaw)

The original design statement of August 2008 states: “Local estate agents currently have a number of 1(i)K potential residents seeking to acquire property in Jersey; however, they cannot provide suitable accommodation to meet the demand.

“Our client seeks to provide a substantial quality family dwelling offering the latest in design and technology.

“The Planning Department also support this approach.”

Pictured: The six-bedroom home is taking shape close to Val de la Mare on the St. Ouen/St. Peter border. (Gary Grimshaw)

The design team say the works have now re-commenced, in full accordance with the relevant statutory consents, and the completed project will deliver significantly more landscape and biodiversity than the buildings, greenhouses and large car park hard standing areas than on the site before.

The U-shaped home will have a granite façade with a swimming pool partially heated by solar panels on the guest wing.

Pictured: An image from the home looking south-west. The lane, Route de la Marette, runs from the bottom of Mont Rossignol to the Les Mielles Golf Club.

It will also have a ‘bio digester’ foul drainage system and a ‘garden pavilion’ in the south-west corner of the site.

It is anticipated that new ponds, bog gardens and wildflower meadows around the house will provide a natural habitat for wildlife.

Pictured: The original planning application said there was not suitable accommodation to meet demand from incoming high-value residents. (Gary Grimshaw)

Planning conditions set in 2009 include a £10,350 ‘Percentage for Art’ contribution and a five-year landscaping maintenance schedule is submitted to the department.