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Plans have been submitted to convert the existing upstairs offices at Eagle House to provide 26 new apartments, whilst retaining the current ground floor retail units where the Youth Service is based.
If approved, the extension and conversion of Eagle House — which makes the corner of Don Road and La Colomberie — would include 17 one-bed flats, eight two-bed flats, one three-bed flat, and a cycle store.
A planning statement submitted by MS Planning on behalf of the Palladium Group explains that the proposals "are for the adaptation of the existing building to avoid waste and provide a new life for the structure, utilising its embedded carbon".
Comments made as part of the planning application say the proposed development aims to take advantage of Eagle House's location in a "vibrant part of St. Helier town centre" and, as such, plans do not include any car parking. Instead, there are proposals for a cycle hub to utilise "the opportunity for active travel and pedestrian links to the heart of St Helier, just 300m away".
Pictured: The current ground floor retail units — including The Link — are unaffected by the proposals.
The planning statement adds that "every opportunity has been taken to ensure the accommodation is well-specified, larger than the usual Standards, and takes advantage of other attributes of the building, such as high ceilings".
The proposals also outline plans for for solar photovoltaic panels — which convert thermal energy into electricity — on the roof, which the planning statement says are "likely to provide sufficient power for all the common parts and services in the building".
MS Planning adds that "the delivery of new residents into La Colomberie will also add to the vitality and viability of the area, supporting commercial activity".
The planning statement also explains that the applicant undertook a focused community engagement exercise including an exhibition at St Helier Parish Hall in January.
Pictured: The applicant exhibited the Eagle House plans at a St Helier Parish Hall event in January.
This exhibition was promoted by a letter drop of approximately 60 letters to the surrounding area to inform neighbours of the Parish Hall exhibition and make them aware of a Facebook page where the same exhibition boards were available to review and comments could be left.
However, there were no attendees at the Parish Hall event and no comments were left on the Facebook page.
You can view the full planning application online.
Pictured top: Eagle House, prior to the Youth Service setting up the Link Project on the ground floor.
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